While X-Men Origins: Wolverine was less a movie and more an audition for other mutants to get their own spin-off flick, the character that jumped out and which fans suggested they wanted to see more of, was Deadpool (although with the character made more like the comics than in Wolverine). While a Deadpool flick went into development almost immediately, it’s been a long old slog getting it ready, with production still seeming an age away, if it ever goes ahead at all.
However, those wondering whether the whole idea was pretty much dead will be pleased to hear that the film now has a director, even if it isn’t the known name you might have hoped. Deadline reports that visual effects artist Tim Miller has signed onto the film, which will mark his directorial debut.
Miller has previously worked on both X-Men and X-Men 2 in the visual effects department. However his hiring is bound to be greeted with suspicion by fans, as while VFX guys have beeng turning director in ever greater numbers, oftentimes hiring someone with little experience for a potentially big franchise is a way for a studio to keep absolute control of a project – something that often results in a sub-par flick.
Directors such as Robert Rodriguez and Adam Berg were in contention to direct Deadpool, although no deals were ever reached for either filmmaker (again with rumours it was the fact Fox refused to give them any sort of control that was the problem).
Ryan Reynolds is still attached star in Deadpool, reprising his ‘Merc With a Mouth’ character Wade Wilson from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, although the film will be a total reboot of the character, pretending that Wolverine never happened. It’s currently planned as an R-rated, pretty violent movie, although dont’ be suprised if it ends up PG-13.