Deadpool 2 Will Have Even More Action, Director Promises

CBR

By Jon Arvedon

Published Mar 31, 2017

Director David Leitch hopes the sequel can expand on the formula that made "Deadpool" a success, and pack in even more over-the-top action.

After waiting years for a Deadpool film, fans were blown away by Ryan Reynolds' Merc With a Mouth, who sliced, shot and cursed his way to a $783 million worldwide box office, and widespread acclaim. Now, all eyes are focused on the highly anticipated sequel, which director David Leitch insists is jam-packed with even more hard-hitting action than its predecessor.

Discussing his intentions to build upon the foundation established by "Deadpool" director Tim Miller, Leitch told Empire, "There's more action in this film. I hope we can expand it and make it interesting in an 87Eleven kinda way," he said, referring to the fight choreography school he runs with his "John Wick" co-director Chad Stahelski.

However, Leitch is cognizant of what made the first film so successful, and doesn't plan to stray too far away from the metatextual model of mayhem that captured audience's hearts in the first place. "The completely irreverent tone was the thing that won me over about the first Deadpool movie," Leitch said "I want to deliver on what they did and at the same time hopefully expand the universe."

Before Reynolds unsheathes his katanas again, though, "Deadpool 2" still needs to fill one major role: the time-traveling mutant soldier Cable. Until recently, Brad Pitt was said to be under consideration, but despite reported interest on both sides, it's speculated his commitment to "World War Z 2" led to him withdrawing his name from consideration. But with production on "Deadpool 2" expected to begin in just a few months, fans should expect this final, elusive piece of the puzzle to come to light "very soon," according writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese. After all, "Man of Steel" actor Michael Shannon and "Stranger Things" star David Harbour are believed to still be in the running.

The as-yet untitled “Deadpool” sequel will once again star Ryan Reynolds, joined (so far) by Zazie Beetz as Domino, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Karan Soni as Dopinder and, presumably, Stefan Kapičić as the voice of Colossus. The film is targeted for release in 2018.