A lot of people claim that comic book fans are a rigid, strict, unforgiving bunch. I'm not in that camp of thinking because even after numerous letdowns and major upsets, we still anticipate and get way too excited for our next favorite hero to emerge on screen. Optimistic or gullible, whatever the case - studios should consider themselves so lucky. Despite our huge disliking of 20th Century Fox's
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, we kinda felt they had cast the perfect person,
Ryan Reynolds, to embody the "Merc with a mouth", but they handled the character with so little tact that it almost felt like a bunch of 5-year olds were behind the wheel. However on paper, Reynolds as
Deadpool is a shoe that fits, and we are led to believe the forthcoming X-spin-off focusing on the anti-hero will ignore the events of 'Wolverine' altogether, so we might get the Deadpool we all know and love on screen. So much for continuity (which is kinda wacky thanks to the last movie anyway), but thank the Lord nonetheless. Three weeks ago, news broke that
Robert Rodriguez had been offered
the chance to direct Deadpool at Fox after they were happy with how his
Machete and
Predators had shaped up, and now the
L.A. Times say early discussions are under-way for Rodriguez to direct his first superhero film. He already has comic book experience of course, having worked alongside Frank Miller to bring his
Sin City stories to life, but this is definitely new territory for him. A while ago Reynolds stated that if he could choose any director to bring Deadpool to life, it would be
Quentin Tarantino. Ryan Reynolds hasn't got his wish, but it looks like he'll be getting the next best thing in Rob Rodriguez, if both the director and studio strike a deal. But with studios constantly watering-down hardcore material and going soft on their superheroes, will even the gore-guru be able to successfully helm a badass Deadpool flick without having studio execs halfway up his rear end? Can we can even expect bloody limbs as a possibility?
There isn't any schedule yet, but producer
Lauren Shuler Donner says she'd like to start shooting next year if leading man Ryan Reynolds isn't too busy, though I know originally they wanted to utilise the shape the actor has got himself into for
Green Lantern, and begin filming once WB had completed filming on that movie. But with Rodriguez making
Spy Kids 4 next, it's clear a 2011 shoot is now desired. I guess it's safe to say the earliest we'll get to see (X-Men Origins?) Deadpool is summer 2012. Thoughts?