Deadpool 3 has been floating around in movie limbo for years, but star Ryan Reynolds just offered a vague update on when production might finally start.

When asked about the status of the highly anticipated threequel, Reynolds told Variety, "Plugging away. I can't really comment right now. Hopefully soon, though." However, Reynolds recently announced he will be taking a break from making movies for an undisclosed period of time, so the actor’s definition of "soon" is unclear.

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Prior to announcing his hiatus, Reynolds revealed there's a strong chance Deadpool 3 will go into production next year. "I'd say it's 50/50 maybe?" he said when asked if filming would begin in 2022. "We're really actively developing it and getting it into pretty good shape. What the hell month is it? August? Oh, next year? Probably pretty damn good. I'd say 70%."

Unlike the first two Deadpool films, which were released by 20th Century Fox, Deadpool 3 will be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that Disney has acquired Fox. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige recently revealed Deadpool 3 has a secret spot on the MCU release calendar, which has a number of unnamed projects slated for 2023. If the threequel begins filming next year, it will likely arrive in one of those slots. "The script is in the works, and Ryan [Reynolds] is working very hard on it with our writers as we speak," said Feige.

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Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin (aka the Molyneux sisters), best known as writers and executive producers on the hit animated series Bob’s Burgers, are penning the script. "It's something that is just a daily process," Reynolds recently said about helping craft the screenplay. "Writing is kind of like that. You've gotta allot time to do it and walk away, and I’m working with the Molyneuxs on it -- it's been great. They’re incredibly talented and so, so smart. They so understand that world and know how to zig when everyone’s expecting a zag, so it's been a lot of fun."

Reynolds also said he's open to playing Deadpool in another MCU movie before Deadpool 3 arrives. "As long as Disney's open to doing some[thing] pretty wildly divergent or having some wildly divergent uses of Deadpool then I dig it, man. I think it's all great," he noted.

Although details about the plot of Deadpool 3 have yet to be revealed, it's confirmed to be the first R-rated film in the MCU.

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Source: Variety