David Leitch, who is riding high on the success of Nobody 2, made fans shriek with laughter and high-octane action in Deadpool 2. But while Ryan Reynolds returned as the katana-wielding Merc With a Mouth 6 years later, Leitch was nowhere to be found. Now, however, he is looking to change that.
In response to whether he would ever consider returning to the Marvel franchise, the filmmaker said, “The answer is yes.” [The Hollywood Reporter] Although there is one condition that needs to be met from Marvel’s end first.
If we were in charge of the architecture of a universe that was around a particular IP, that scratches the creative itch. It’s less of the director-producer for hire and more, ‘If you want to let us architect the universe, that’s really exciting to us.’ We’re looking for those opportunities, and if that comes our way, we’ll entertain them.
However, such a heavy ask might pose a problem for his MCU return. Given the overarching interconnected nature of the Marvel universe, it will not be easy to spawn an independent franchise around a single IP.
Is David Leitch a Good Fit for MCU’s Future? Nobody 2’s Box Office Info Tells Us “No”
David Leitch’s wonderful execution of Deadpool 2 helped keep the IP afloat in the transition between the Foxverse and the MCU. The 2018 movie also gave way to the billion-dollar threequel mash-up, Deadpool & Wolverine. All of it gives us hope that he could’ve done well with other MCU action blockbusters like Captain America: Brave New World or Thunderbolts*.
However, Leitch’s latest project, Nobody 2, took a hard nosedive after pitching a nice intro. The stunt choreographer-turned-director had every tool to build a John Wick-style universe with Bob Odenkirk‘s character. Instead, Nobody 2 was a ridiculous blend of summer aesthetic with some derivative action from the original movie.
The outcome was $17.8 million worldwide collection on a $25 million budget [Box Office Mojo]. Critically, the sequel was much less acclaimed than the 2021 film, and has a rating of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The inconsistency is not a good look for a director of Leitch’s credibility. He has shown potential with exceptional action blockbusters like Atomic Blonde and light-hearted capers like Bullet Train. But his latest project doesn’t give the fans much hope for his foray into the Marvel universe, especially with a responsibility as painstaking as creating his own universe on an IP.
Below is a table of every David Leitch-directed film and its performance:
MovieRotten TomatoesIMDbBox OfficeJohn Wick (uncredited)86%7.5$86 millionAtomic Blonde79%6.7$100 millionDeadpool 283%7.6$734.5 millionHobbs & Shaw67%6.5$760.7 millionBullet Train52%7.3$239.3 millionThe Fall Guy82%6.8$181 million
What’s Next for Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Deadpool and Wolverine (2024) [Credit: Marvel Studios]
Ryan Reynolds recently celebrated a worldwide phenomenon with long-time friend and partner-in-crime, Hugh Jackman, in their 2024 team-up, Deadpool & Wolverine. The movie grossed over $1.3 billion [Box Office Mojo] and became a cameo-filled, ultra-violent delight that fans couldn’t get enough of.
Following up on such a feat will be nearly impossible. However, if Deadpool were to return, it would have to be another team effort. With the 56-year-old Jackman no longer in his prime, it’s a no-brainer about whether he can keep playing the superhero. But Reynolds, apparently, has no such qualms.
He recently posted a Deadpool graffiti-ed Avengers logo, which led the industry to chase ideas about his return in the next Avengers film. Deadline, however, quickly snubbed the rumor at its roots, claiming it was a fan-made art that Reynolds reposted on Instagram after being intrigued by it.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds)
Reynolds’s Deadpool will not appear in Doomsday or Secret Wars, unless the Russo Brothers are hiding something up their sleeves. As for the character’s involvement in the upcoming X-Men saga, nothing is set in stone yet.
Who do you think should take over the mantle of Deadpool from Reynolds in the MCU’s new Mutant Saga? Drop your best guesses in the comments below.
Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine are available to stream on Disney+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
