Four In The Mix For 'DEADPOOL' Female Lead; Includes Taylor Schilling And Rebecca Rittenhouse

Deadline reports that four actresses are in the mix for the female lead in Tim Miller's Deadpool. The film is the X-Men spin-off that has Ryan Reynolds reprising the role of Wade Wilson the sane alter-ego of the mutant mercenary Deadpool.

The they include Morena Baccarin (Serenity, V, Homeland, Firefly), Taylor Schilling (Orange Is The New Black, The Overnight),  Crystal Reed (Teen Wolf, Crush) and Rebecca Rittenhouse (The Red Band Soceity). It was previously reported that T.J. Miller and Ed Skrien were in talks for roles as well.

I have to admit I'll be rooting for both Taylor and Rebecca for the unnamed role.

The role is either going to be mutant prostitute Vanessa Geraldine Carlysle aka Copycat who becomes romantically involved with Wilson or fellow mercenary Neena Thurman aka Domino.

In the original script, Copycat was the female lead but since the extensive rewrites they could have replaced her with the more fully formed character like Domino which of course could further help setup X-Force. Neena becoming an X-Men member on the X-Force team.

In a shocking twist Fox and Miller could try to include both mutant ladies.

Production is expected to startup soon in Vancouver Canada with a release date of February 12th, 2016.



SOURCE: DEADLINE

DEADPOOL Begins Production In March

Canadian news outlet Global has confirmed that Fox's X-Men spin-off Deadpool will indeed begin production in March. First-time director Tim Miller is helming the project with a revised script from writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

The film has Ryan Reynolds finally playing as the wildly popular and insane mutant mercenary. It will spend two months shooting in location at North Shore Studios in Vancouver. It should be a comfortable shoot for the actor since Vancouver is his hometown. North Shore was the studio space for Fox's X-Files.

Ryan also shot Blade Trinity in Vancouver, but it's expected this production will go a lot smoother.

The rest of the casting should start coming together soon as most of the cast would likely need time to get prepared for action sequences and fight/weapons training.

As production is ramping-up within the next two months we'll likely start getting announcements from trades and Fox concerning it's cast. T.J. Miller and Ed Skrien were in the mix for roles but they haven't been confirmed.

SOURCE: GLOBAL 

TJ Miller Being Looked At For Comedic Role In DEADPOOL..Is It Weasel Or Bob?

Deadpool will be released next February but we don't have much casting for the film at the moment. TheWrap has an update with news that both TJ Miller (Big Hero 6, Silicon Valley, Cloverfield) and Ed Skrien are being looked-at for major roles in the film. Miller's role is said to be comedic of nature, which I assume means it could be Weasel or Fox's version of Bob Agent of Hydra.

Ed Skrien on the other hand is said to be the up for the villain role. We have no idea who that character could be since the major script rewrites, but I would take a guess that Taskmaster or someone like that is a strong candidate. Skrien is best known for his roles in Game of Thrones and Transporter: Legacy, both of which were extremely action-heavy characters. This leads me to believe he very well could be Taskmaster or another extremely psychical X-Men villain.

Here's why I believe Taskmaster is a strong candidate to become a major villain in Deadpool.

At one time Fox tried to have a Taskmaster film put together by Joe Carnahan, who later developed a gritty Daredevil reboot for them as well. My assumption is that Fox still holds the rights to the character, since we haven't heard anything about him returning to Marvel. The Marvel villain has tangled with Deadpool on many occasions and seems like a threat that would outside the mutant world. He's also one of the more recognizable villains Deadpool has clashed with over the years.

Nothing says it couldn't lead to him getting his own spin-off eventually, since we know Fox did want to give the character his own movie. Plus, after all the extensive rewrites that the original script underwent after it leaking a lot stuff could have been scrapped.

Carnahan confirmed to SuperheroHype back in 2010 he was indeed working on the Fox movie project, adding he'd like to make a Juggernaut film as well. His vision for the Taskmaster film was a mix of Punisher, Deadpool and Blade, too bad it never came together. Joe is currently attached to direct an adaptation of Mark Millar's comic Nemesis and his successful series Blacklist airs on NBC.

"For Alex (Young, producer of "The A-Team") I was going to do Taskmaster. Originally I wanted to do Juggernaut ’cause I had a really good take on that, and then Taskmaster was something we talked about, and I haven’t discussed it with him for ages, but I would love to get back in. I love the idea of a guy with photographic reflexes, he can see something and repeat it, I thought that was such a cool idea. I think there’s a Moon Knight series where he just beats the sh*t out of Taskmaster and kind of ruined him, and it’s a cool character. I think it might be one of those Marvel characters you really need to reimagine because he’s got the whole skull and cape—it’s a bit grandiose I think—but it would certainly be a cool thing."

"It was very much in the realm of the Punisher," he continued. "It’s kind of funny because it’s almost what they were going to do with Deadpool, that same sort of smart-ass thing, before they went the way of–and I know that there are fans that hated Fox for doing that whole thing with Deadpool and Reynolds in ‘Wolverine’–but you have to create that differentiation. I think at least Taskmaster, he’s so below the radar. He’s even below where Blade was considered a B-tier Marvel character, this guy is even lesser-known. It would be a lot of fun to write it as a series and then see what came from there."

Here is the sizzle reel Joe Carnahan made for his Daredevil reboot pitch which was never made it past concept. I assume some of this helped Marvel consider a darker tone for their upcoming Netflix series dropping in April.



SOURCE: THEWRAP

Fans Rejoice, Fox's X-MEN Spin-Off DEADPOOL Officially Coming February 2016!

THR has news that 20th Century Fox has finally greenlit the long in-development Deadpool spin-off. The film set in the X-Men universe has been trying to get pushed into production for years. Problems stemmed from it's R-rating, and a completed script leaked online a while back. The character doesn't really lend itself to a PG-13 rating, as his signature is hyper-violent and filthy mouth. Since then, screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (Zombieland, G.I. Joe: Retaliation) did a bunch of rewrites to the existing script. Fox has officially given the spin-off a release date of February 12th, 2016.

Director Tim Miller's test footage featuring Ryan Reynolds leaked online not too long ago. It's sort of fun, but also a bit average. Perhaps, being all digital might be the main problem people like myself have with it. Ryan played the mercenary's alter-ego Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and has been loosely attached throughout the entire development. It looks like Ryan is set in the role, and it's ready to go.

Lauren Shuler Donner is set as producer, as she heads-up all the films in the X-Men franchise. The producer has been vocal about trying to make the film with a smaller budget, to keep it's R-rating intact. It's February release could mean that Fox has agreed to this, as the winter months have been known as the dropping season for smaller studio R-rated genre flicks. X-Men: Apocalypse is said to begin shooting this April in Montreal, with a release date only months after Deadpool in May. The impression this gives me is that Deadpool is ready to go into production soon, or it will have less post-production and will be a smaller film.

I'm not sure how much of connection this film will have with the rest of the X-Men universe, considering Deadpool understands he's in a comic book and breaks the fourth-wall all the time. He'll likely end-up directly talking to the audience and making high-volume pop culture references. Two things we really haven't seen in other X-Men films. One of the weirder comic book characters in Marvel's lineup, it'll make for an unique movie.

At a point it was unknown if Fox would actually pursue the film. As five other Marvel projects have come into light since X-Men: Days of Future Past was announced. Another main X-Men film with Apocalypse, sequels to James Mangold's successful The Wolverine and Josh Trank's unreleased Fantastic Four. Other projects without release dates but are in development include Jeff Wadlow's X-Force and another spin-off focusing on Gambit (possibly played by Channing Tatum). This will be the first time Fox will release two X-Men films in one year, so it'll be interesting to see if this becomes a regular thing. As Marvel Studios has proven the demand is clearly there for these comic book movies, and the market can handle two major releases from a studio.




SOURCE: THR

SPECULATION: Could Joe Carnahan Replace Tim Miller As DEADPOOL Director If He Exits?

Deadpool has been in development limbo for months even with a script and director in place. Fox is eager to put out a slew of new Marvel films including The Wolverine, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Fantastic Four it's odd that Deadpool isn't being fast-tracked. Last we heard, Fox was trying to figure out the best way to make the R-rated film with Mark Millar as the studio's new creative consultant.

Tim Miller had been hired to direct after talks with Robert Rodriguez broke down. Miller last spoke about the project in October and seemed optimistic. However, Miller has since signed on to direct two big studio films Gravel and Seasons along with major involvement on the animated film The Goon. This gives the impression these other projects will likely force him to exit Deadpool.

"We've turned in an amazing script and done some early tests and visual development that -- I'm confident -- would get the fans stoked. And Ryan still loves the project. So it's really up to Fox as to whether or not the film happens -- all I can do is hope (and beg periodically) that it be allowed to move ahead."

If Miller exits my bet would be on Joe Carnahan (The Grey, Narc) being contacted to direct. This is because of his connection to all parties involved. Joe worked with Ryan on Smokin' Aces and is attached to direct Mark Millar's Nemesis for Fox. He had been hired by the studio to put together a reboot of Daredevil which ultimately didn't happen. It seemed the studio wasn't confident in the material as the rights reverted back to Marvel. That doesn't mean Joe wouldn't be considered for future Marvel films. He had been talking with Fox about developing a Taskmaster film a while back. Besides Carnahan has Nemesis and a remake of Death Wish in development, neither have started pre-production.

Tim Miller To Direct Sci-Fi Flick SEASONS

Deadline reports that Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to Joe Haldeman's Seasons and has set Tim Miller to direct. You might remember that Ridley Scott was trying to put together a film based on Haldeman's The Forever War. Seasons focuses on an anthropological expedition to a planet with sentient humanoids that goes horribly awry. This is the second film (Legendary's Gravel) project Miller has attached himself to since the announcement he would direct Deadpool for Fox. It begs the question, when will the studio announce his exit from Deadpool?

Tim Miller To Direct Gravel For Legendary Pictures

Hollywood has officially fallen under the spell of VFX guru Tim Miller of Blur Studio. Deadline reports Miller has been hired by Legendary Pictures to direct Gravel which is based on the comic book written by Warren Ellis. The comic focuses on William Gravel, a soldier in the British S.A.S. who uses his skills in dark magic to moonlight and battle supernatural beings for clients in order to make some extra cash.

Last year 20th Century Fox announced Miller would be directing the Deadpool movie which would re-introduce the merc-with-a-mouth to audiences. Since that announcement little progress has been made while The Wolverine is about to go into production and the X-Men First Class sequel is quickly moving forward. This might be the extra nudge that Fox needs to finally put Deadpool into production before Miller is swayed into making Gravel instead. I assume they got Miller on the cheap but if he keeps getting these type of offers for more money it might lead him to exit Deadpool. The studio has been keen on Ryan Reynolds reprising the role of Wade Wilson keeping the production on hold until he finishes up other movies. Now seems the best time to move forward before Miller moves to other things.

VIDEO: Why Tim Miller Is Going To Blow Us Away With Deadpool

I don't often have a reason to make a video so I've held off to post any. However, when hearing that production on Tim Miller's Deadpool starring Ryan Reynolds was heating up at 20th Century Fox I put together one highlighting the works of Miller and his VFX house Blur Studio. The company is mostly known for in game and trailer video game cinematics but have also worked on films like Avatar. While the prospect of an R-rated script from Zombieland screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick should be enough. Miller's extensive work bringing to life amazing action sequences is also a reason keep fans on their toes. Not to mention his familiarity with genre characters and previously working effects for the first two X-Men films. The games featured in the best of reel I put together include X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Terminator Salvation, Mass Effect 2, Arkham City, Resident Evil: Operation Racoon City and Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Deadpool And Wolverine Shooting Within The Year?

20th Century Fox has a lot on their plate with their comic book films. They currently have Daredevil, Fantastic Four and an X-Men First Class sequel in different development stages. David Slade (Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night) is set to direct the Daredevil reboot and Josh Trank in talks for Fantastic Four. Matthew Vaughn is still being pursued to return for First Class 2 but hasn't signed on.

Two projects that have been delayed include the spin-off/reboot Deadpool and the Japanese saga The Wolverine. TheGeekFiles reports that a source from Fox confirms both films will go into production within the year. I assume they're still aiming for a summer 2013 release date for The Wolverine and I expect a late summer/fall  2013 release for Deapool. He's a rundown of the two movies and what's happened since their original announcements.

The Wolverine is expected to more of a one-off than a sequel to the Origins film. Taking inspiration from the Japanese saga written by Frank Miller and Chris Claremont. Solid source material considering the mess the first film was. The terrible disaster that effected Japan pushed back the Wolverine's original 2011 production date which was expected to shoot a good chunk of the movie there. Personal issues lead to the exit of director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Requiem From A Dream) and James Mangold (Walk The Line, 3:10 To Yuma) stepped in. The film's script written by Christopher McQuarrie (Usual Suspects) ended up getting rewrites from Mark Bomback (Total Recall, Die Hard 4, Jack The Giant Killer). Again the film's expected Spring 2012 shoot was put into question when Hugh Jackman signed onto Tom Hooper's Les Miserables which is about to start production. It was confirmed that we'll be seeing characters like Silver Samurai, Viper, Yukio and The Hand.

Deadpool hasn't had as many issues as The Wolverine but still did have some during it's development. It's script written by the duo Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese who brought us the successful zombie comedy Zombieland ended up leaking online, revealing it's characters. Those included at the time of the leak Blind Al, Patch, Copycat, Ajax (villain) and X-Men member Colossus. While Fox seemed to freak out about the script being all over the web everyone who ended up reading it loved it. It will be interesting to see how many changes if any will end up in the final film.

Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez had been named as dream directors for the project. While Rodriguez took a look at the script and had talks with Fox he ended up making Spy Kids 4 instead. VFX expert Tim Miller ended up landing the directing job which seemed to confuse a lot of people unfamiliar with his work. He owns and works for VFX company Blur Studios making some of the best cinematic trailers for video games. Miller was involved in the effects departments for both X-Men and X2. It's expected that Blur will end up doing the Deadpool's effects. They've previously worked on films like Scott Pilgrim, Avatar and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

Ryan Reynolds had been eager to play Deadpool for years and was cast as Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins:Wolverine. The film was a total mess angering Deadpool fans who felt the studio ruined the on screen character. Ryan went on the defensive and the studio looked to push for a spin-off in the meantime. Even if Reynolds had been clamoring his constant involvement in giving fans a faithful Deadpool film it was questionable if he was going to stick around. During Green Lantern's production a trilogy had been brought up and it looked like Ryan could exiting Deadpool. Luckily for Fox, Green Lantern tanked and WB's rushed sequel didn't look like it was going to happen anytime soon. It's been confirmed yet again that Ryan is still attached to the project and is just waiting for the production date.

Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld recently confirmed that the studio has shot around eight minutes of hard-R test footage which he's been able to preview. It seems that pre-production is currently about to start and they're just waiting for a greenlight from both Fox and producer Lauren Shuler Donner. Donner confirmed not too long ago she would be pushing the studio to go with the R rating.

Is There 8 Minutes Of R-Rated Test Footage For Deadpool?

There hasn't been much development concerning Fox's reboot of the character Wade Wilson better known as Deadpool. BleedingCool picked up creator Rob Liefelf stating he may have seen some R-rated test footage Fox could have shot. If this is indeed true it could mean that the studio could be finally figuring out when/how they will shoot. Fox seemed to have been mulling over what to do with the Merc-With-A-Mouth as the script written by the dynamic duo of Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Zombieland, G.I. Joe 2) is clearly for an R-rated movie. There seemed to be some hesitation to pursue that type of rating considering all five X-Men universe films have been PG-13 money makers. X-Men franchise producer Lauren Shulder Donner recently spoke on the subject and even sounded like she was championing decision to go with an R rating. If this does happen this will be Fox's first R-rated Marvel film.

While rating isn't everything these days since Christopher Nolan was able to give us a down and dirty Batman film with the Dark Knight even if it was PG-13. Some might say the censors turned a blind-eye to a few scenes. However, when it comes to Deadpool the mercenary character needs to live in a hostile environment which he contributes to with a massive body count. He's also mentally unstable and unpredictable so explicit language is necessity. Here's hoping Fox comes to their senses and moves forward with this film soon. At one point it looked like Ryan Reynolds was going to walk from the project. Luckily, Green Lantern bombed and it doesn't look like that sequel will sweep him away.

"They’ve got a great director on the movie, they’ve got a great script. I may or may have not seen some sort of test of footage that would blow your mind if you saw it and go holy crap and that’s Deadpool in costume. Katana swords, guns, shooting people’s faces off and making me laugh. And I may or may not have seen something that looks just like that. And you’ve got what would amount to the first R Rated X-Men movie. Because that script is R Rated. 


 They may or may not have wanted to shoot eight minutes to see how it would play. And all I can tell you, it’s close. It’s closer that it’s even been to going, or going Naaah, that’s too scary a proposition to make a R Rated Deadpool movie.”

Lauren Shuler Donner Talks Deadpool, The Wolverine & First Class 2

If Kevin Feige is the face of Marvel Studios then producer Lauren Shuler Donner is the face of Fox's X-Men franchise. Lauren is responsible for producing X-Men 1-3, X-Men Origins and First Class. I have to commend her on finally giving us a solid X-Men film (First Class) after such a long wait since X2. Fox and Lauren finally took the material somewhat seriously and delivered a solid film rather than a cash-in mutant cameo orgy. She's been making the rounds talking up future projects which includes Deadpool, The Wolverine and a sequel to X-Men First Class.

First Lauren talks to CinemaBlend and TotalFilm about an R-rated Deadpool and director Tim Miller.

"If we make the movie it needs to be a rated R film. Otherwise you can’t make it. As for Tim, most of the advertisements for the games you play, everybody plays, he does those. He’s just…it would give it a very different look, a very different feel, which would be totally appropriate for Deadpool. Again, I don’t want people to feel like they’ve seen these movies before. Every movie has to have its own identity, and he will bring a whole different visual style to it. Very different visual style. And he’s funny! He fits right into that world. He fits right in. He’s perfect." 

"We have a few more things to do. And then it’s up to the studio to decide whether we’re going to go forward or not… But I’m pretty excited. We have a good script and a good director [Tim Miller].....Yes he was treated totally wrong in the Wolverine film and yes we will redeem him."
 
She also talked to CinemaBlend and HitFix about director James Mangold who recently landed the gig for The Wolverine. The film has been rumored to have been pushed back to a Spring/Summer 2012 shoot to work around Hugh Jackman's other films.

"I really liked Walk The Line and I really liked Girl Interrupted and I really liked 3:10 To Yuma. For me there’s three things that I look for. One thing is performance, because really it’s all about characters, even in action movies. Two is a look, you know, visual, because we have to have a style. Three is the ability to handle action and certainly with 3:10 To Yuma you could see that and he’s very experienced. I think we lucked out."

"[We want] to distinguish it from the other one… It’s much more of a standalone [movie]… I’m not sure when we’ll start. Maybe summer 2012 we’ll start shooting. It’s based on Hugh’s schedule, frankly. When he’s available, we’ll film. …He’s doing ‘Les Miserables’, and then he has to come and train for us. So it’s all dependent on him."

Talking to CraveOnline Donner also gives a couple updates on a First Class sequel. Along with her response via HomeMediaMagazine about bringing in Cyclops and Jean Grey for the next film.

"Well, if we were going to sequelize this and keep on going, we would stay in the next [time] period. Probably we’d go to the 70’s."

[on Cyclops and Jean for First Class 2]..."Maybe. Let's just say, I hope so."

"Yes. I mean that movie was a very strenuous movie so Matthew and everybody took some time off. Now we’re back and regrouping and kicking around some ideas. I think we just need to come up with a really good story and see where that leads us. If we could, great, if not, I think the story itself is what is most important."
 

Who Is Tim Miller & Why Should We Care He's Directing Deadpool?

It was just announced that visual effects specialist Tim Miller would be directing his first film with 20th Century Fox's Deadpool. Most people seemed to be shocked a first time director would be handling a film linked to the X-Men franchise. Well I've discovered a little something on Mr. Miller that fans of Deadpool might be interested in.

First, Tim has worked on some seriously fine looking comic book films which includes Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, X-Men and X-Men 2. Helping with the impressive visual effects that made some of these the stylish comic book films ever put on screen. He also worked on Daredevil while the costumes and acting was terrible the effects were solid as a rock.








Miller would also be a important part of Blur Studio an up and coming effects house which has been known for some impressive video game cinematics (Mass Effect 2, Halo, X-Men Legends 2, DC Universe, The Force Unleashed 2, Old Republic). If you've enjoyed a video game cinematic in the last five years they are likely the ones behind it. They've also worked on films like Avatar and the David Fincher produced animated film The Goon. They are also involved with Fincher's massive Heavy Metal project which is still in development with shorts being directed by James Cameron, Zack Snyder and Fincher as well. Having Blur Studio working on Deadpool's effects could be nothing but a positive in my opinion.

Fox Hires Director For Deadpool!

Deadline reports that 20th Century Fox and producer Lauren Shuler Donner have chosen a director for Deadpool. They've hired first time director Tim Miller with Ryan Reynolds still attached to star. Miller is an interesting choice as he is best known as a visual effects director working on comic book films such as X-Men 1-2 and Scott Pilgrim. It's not that terrible of an idea as the film would have a similar "look" as the first two X-Men films while being it's own thing. Neill Blomkamp had a similar background as Miller before making District 9 and working on the effects himself cutting down the post-production costs. Eventually making a 30-40 million dollar film look like it was done for $100-150 million. This could be a tactic used by Fox to make a large scale R-rated film like District 9 without spending the money they would on a PG-13 comic book film.

It's unknown when this could start production as Fox is still looking for a director to take over The Wolverine for Darren Aronofsky. I wouldn't be shocked to see Deadpool move forward sooner than expected with a script and director now in place. Ryan is also attached but not committed to R.I.P.D. which Zach Galifianakis just dropped out and is set for summer production start. I'd like to think Reynolds would be more committed to making Deadpool first as he's been involved with it since day one.