The superhero movie world was dealt a surprising blow this weekend, when it was revealed that originalDeadpooldirectorTim Millerwas parting ways with the upcoming sequelDeadpool 2overcreative differenceswith starRyan Reynolds. A subsequent report claimed that both the director and star clashed over the casting of Cable, who was announced as part of the sequel duringDeadpool’s post-credit sequence. Today a new report has surfaced that claims the real reasonTim Millerleft didn’t involve the sequel’s casting, but rather the budget.
The Wrapreports that star/producerRyan Reynoldsand writersRhett ReeseandPaul Wernick, envisioned a “scrappy,” raunchy, inexpensive movie," along the lines of the originalDeadpool. The original R-rated movie became a box office sensation, earning $782.6 million worldwide from a $58 million budget.Tim Miller, on the other hand, reportedly wanted a more “stylish take” that would compete with big-budget tentpoles, and cost three times more than the first movie. Here’s what the site’s source had to say.
“There were two totally different movies on the table, and one of them just wasn’tDeadpool.”
This report also claims that 20th Century Fox presidentJim Gianopoloushad to act as a “peacekeeper” betweenTim MillerandRyan Reynoldsduring the production, while another source claimed that the executive didn’t have to step in until after the first film’s release in February.Jim Gianapolousofficially confirmed at the CinemaCon convention that theDeadpool sequelis happening, but he ended up leaving the studio on September 1., withStacey Snidertaking over. This report claims that the studio’s president of production,Emma Watts, has been largely handling this situation sinceJim Gianapolousleft the studio.
Shortly after this report was published, Collider’s editor-in-chiefSteven Weintraubstated on Twitter that the director didn’t want a sequel that would cost three times more than the original, calling the report “bulls–t.“Steven Weintraubwouldn’t address the issue further, but regardless of why he left, the sequel still needs to find a new director. 20th Century Fox hasn’t issued a release date yet, but producerSimon Kinberghad teased in June that they had planned to start shooting in early 2017, but that may not happen now unless they can find a new director very soon.
Shortly afterTim Millerleft the sequel, a petition formed to get maverick filmmakerQuentin Tarantinoto directDeadpool 2, which would most certainly be a departure for the filmmaker, since he has never tackled the superhero genre before. Just beforeTim MillerleftDeadpool 2, we reported that the studio has six actresses on their short list to play Domino,Lizzy Caplan,Mary Elizabeth Winstead,Sienna Miller,Sofia Boutella,Stephanie SigmanandSylvia Hoeks. Take a look at the tweets fromSteven Weintrauband The Wrap’sUmberto Gonzalezabout theDeadpool 2director situation.
