Deadpool’s Triumphant Return
It was inevitable that a sequel to the wildly successful Deadpool would be on the horizon. The R-rated superhero parody raked in over $780 million at the box office, making it one of the top-grossing and best-reviewed movies of 2016. With such a massive success, a sequel was a no-brainer.
However, the journey to bring the “Merc with a Mouth” to the big screen has been anything but smooth. After the character’s disastrous debut in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, fans’ hopes for a proper Deadpool film were all but dashed. Test footage for the origin story leaked long before the movie had a release date, and the positive fan response seemingly greenlit the rest of the movie’s production. Even the sequel has faced its share of behind-the-scenes drama, with disagreements over direction and casting decisions making headlines.
With a 2018 release date fast approaching, it seems the pieces have finally fallen into place for Deadpool 2. While there’s still much we don’t know about the film, it’s far more certain than the rumors surrounding New Mutants, another 2018 entry in Fox’s X-Men Cinematic Universe.
Enter Cable: Deadpool’s Unlikely Partner
As teased in Deadpool‘s post-credit scene, the sequel will feature a team-up with fan-favorite character Cable. While all the X-Men have complicated backstories, few are as bizarre as Cable’s.
Born Nathan Summers, Cable is the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, a clone of Jean Grey. His existence is the result of the sinister machinations of X-Men villain Mr. Sinister. To protect Nathan from the villains drawn to him, Cyclops entrusted his son to a visitor from an alternate future, where Cable was destined to become the savior of mutantkind. He later returned as an adult mutant with robotic enhancements and a penchant for big guns.
Cable eventually found his niche as the straight-man to Deadpool’s slapstick antics. His over-the-top ’90s aesthetic and convoluted backstory provided endless amusement for Deadpool, while the constant trouble he found himself in gave the techno-organic gun-nut a reason to stick around.
Josh Brolin Steps into Cable’s Shoes
There was considerable speculation surrounding who would play Cable, with Deadpool himself suggesting Keira Knightley. Early buzz for the role centered around Stephen Lang and Ron Perlman, and for a while, Pierce Brosnan was supposedly in the running. Ultimately, Fox settled on Josh Brolin, the same actor playing Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Brolin’s imposing presence makes him a perfect fit for the role, especially when standing next to Ryan Reynolds’ everyman look.
Also set to appear is Domino, a visually distinct mutant who often serves as a supporting character in various X-Men stories. Although she has superpowers related to probability manipulation, it’s safe to think of her as an incredibly skilled assassin.
Returning Cast and a New Director
The key players from the first movie are all set to reprise their roles in the sequel. This includes leads Ryan Reynolds and Morena Baccarin (his love interest Vanessa), as well as T.J. Miller (his wisecracking best friend), Leslie Uggams (his elderly blind roommate), Karan Soni (the lovestruck cabbie Dopinder), Brianna Hildebrand (the disaffected Negasonic Teenage Warhead), and Stefan Kapicic (Colossus).
Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned troubles leading up to the sequel, Deadpool‘s director, Tim Miller, will not be returning to direct its follow-up. Instead, David Leitch, an uncredited co-director on John Wick mostly known for his extensive stunt work, will be taking over. While Miller’s skillset was perfectly matched to the franchise, Leitch is an ideal replacement. His small body of work proves that he can handle the gritty action that the franchise is fast becoming known for.
Bigger Budget, Bigger Action
While we won’t know the sequel’s budget until well after its release, it’s safe to assume it will be significantly larger than the first film’s modest funds. The emphasis on comedy in the original allowed for a smaller budget than most superhero films, a fact Deadpool even joked about near the film’s climax. A larger budget will undoubtedly give Leitch more room to flex his action-packed muscles and deliver the kind of movie he’s known for making.
As for the movie’s release date, don’t expect another February debut. The success of the first film has earned Deadpool 2 a prime June 1st release date, putting it in direct competition with Disney’s Han Solo spinoff. However, given its predecessor’s performance, it’s safe to say that Deadpool 2 will hold its own at the box office.
Follow Us
