Even thoughDeadpool 2doesn’t have a director anymore, 20th Century Fox isn’t slowing down one bit. Not only is the studio moving full steam ahead on this impending sequel with an empty director’s chair, they are already in the planning stages onDeadpool 3. And the movie will introduce X-Force.
WithDeadpool 2set to bring in Cable and his girlfriend Domino, many believed the sequel would serve as the launching pad for theX-Forcemovie. But it sounds like the thirdDeadpoolmovie will arrive before that. Director Tim Miller, who helped create the originalDeadpooland get it off the ground, bringing it in as one of 2016’s biggest blockbusters surprises, bailed on the next chapter over creative differences with star Ryan Reynolds. One of the major factors was that they could not agree on who should play Cable, a key factor in establishingX-Force. So with this latest news, some of the turmoil starts to make more sense.
This latest news comes from a full breakdown of theX-Men franchisefromThe Hollywood Reporter. They report that final negotiations on aDeadpool 2director are continuing. Thing is, it doesn’t sound like the same person will be behind the helm ofDeadpool 3
When last we heard,John Wickco-director David Leitch was wanted forDeadpool 2but that has yet to be confirmed by 20th Century Fox. And if there is a new name in the mix, it’s not being revealed just yet. It is being speculated that the plannedX-Forcemovie has just been absorbed byDeadpool 3, and is no longer moving forward. Again, that hasn’t been confirmed either.
This report goes onto state that the reset button is being firmly pushed on the entireX-Menseries. And that writer and producer Simon Kinberg is deep into pre-production on the screenplay for the 7th X-Men standalone movie, which doesn’t sound like it has any connective tissue to what has come before it. We know thatLogan, also known asWolverine 3, will be the final performance fromHugh Jackmanin the franchise.
Bryan Singeris not coming back for X-Men 7 as previously rumored. After directing four of the six main movies, he is taking a backseat, instead ready to focus his attention on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. And he recently attached himself toBohemian Rhapsody, a Queen biopic that features Rami Malek as singer Freddy Mercury. Also throwing a wrench into X-Men 7 is that Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Nicholas Hoult are all done with their three picture contracts, and if Fox wants them back, a big pay raise is in order. Fox is optimistic that all four will come back in some capacity, which calls their want and need to restart the franchise into question. Why would they bring back the same actors for a fresh reboot?
20th Century Fox has also been looking to spin-off the X-Men franchise in a couple of other directions. But those plans are stalling.Gambit, which is supposed to star Channing Tatum as the Canjun card-throwing mutant, has been delayed a number of times now. Director Doug Liman bailed on the project quite a while ago. But it’s noted that Tatum recently completed his Steven Soderbergh dramaLogan Luckyand now has room in his schedule to make this happen. So it could shoot soon if Fox decides on a new director.
In terms ofThe New Mutants, Fox remains quite optimistic that it will happen in the very near future. Josh Boone has been attached as the director for awhile, and a script is complete. It is noted thatThe New Mutantscould start shooting as early as Spring 2017. While the whole X-Men franchise appears to be in flux, audiences won’t be without their favorite mutants for long.Loganhits theaters in time for Spring Break 2017, arriving on March 3. There’s more to come on all of this as more breaks. Expect aDeadpool 2director to be announced shortly.
