Ever since news that Ryan Reynolds would be playing both Green Lantern and Deadpool in upcoming comic book movies emerged, fans of both characters have been discussing and debating it. I know I, an avid Deadpool fan, certainly have. The questions I keep seeing are: Is Reynolds right for the character of Deadpool? Can he fit both movies into his shooting schedule, or is
Deadpool going to get left in the dust? And what if Warner Bros. keeps Reynolds tied up in
Green Lantern sequels? Should FOX replace him as Deadpool, reschedule the movie, or cancel it? Should we hate Warner Brothers if this happens? And now, to add to all of this: even if the
Green Lantern franchise movies don't get in his way, will Reynolds choose to play Deadpool at all? Or will he choose to film the newly discussed
R.I.P.D. movie instead? What then??
I don't have all the answers, but I can tell you what I think. First, Reynolds is an inspired choice for Deadpool. I mean, even putting aside the facts that: 1) he's a self-proclaimed Deadpool fanboy who's been chasing the idea of a canon Deadpool movie for years; 2) in the comics the mouthy merc
actually refers to his looks at one point as "a cross between Ryan Reynolds and a Shar Pei;" and 3)
Reynolds has excellent comic timing and the physique to fit the character; there's the fact that for the portion of
X-Men Origins: Wolverine in which Reynolds was actually allowed to play a
canon Wade Wilson (in my presence, WE DO NOT SPEAK of the post-operation abomination obliquely referred to as "Deadpool," *shudder*), he completely rocked the role. So we know he can do it, and we know he wants to do it, and do it right. What more could fans ask for?
Well, they could ask for Hollywood to lock down the major players already, but let's be honest — that's a bit like asking for Deadpool to shut his mouth forever this far out (
Deadpool is tentatively slated for 2012). The unfortunate truth of the movie industry, as Reynolds himself has said, is that there are so many factors involved in getting a movie made that a lot can go awry between planning a movie and making it happen.
Here, it looks like the first
Green Lantern movie isn't causing any problems, and it's too soon yet to tell if a second one will. However, Reynolds is already committed to at least two more movies before he'd get around to shooting
Deadpool, and now, after fans just celebrated
io9's article in which Reynolds talked enthusiastically about the
Deadpool script and gave every indication that it's going ahead, we've received news that Reynolds is also interested in another comics-based script,
R.I.P.D., that would shoot around the same time. Reynolds
has stated, "it's obviously likely that they'll both get made. But I think it would be more likely that only one of them gets made with me."
To which, as a fan, I have to say, "What the hell, Ryan Reynolds?!?" Seriously, man — why would you even consider choosing the more obscure
R.I.P.D. over a movie that is based on a favorite character of yours and is perfect for you; that has been getting hype and has a rabid and growing following of fans drooling for it to be made; and that you have been advocating for years?? People of Earth, and Ryan Reynolds: I cannot grok this. I can deal with Reynolds playing a billion different comic book characters (seriously, he loves signing on for these roles. Remember Hannibal King? And I think even Captain Excellent counts) since the characters are all very different thus far. But I worry that
Deadpool is going to get left by the wayside in favor of his other projects, and if that happens ... what in the name of Thorpool are we going to do next?
The answer, in my view, is: hope like hell that they find somebody else fitting to play the part. I mean, yes, by this point, I have trouble even contemplating anyone besides Reynolds for the role, and I'll cry big geek tears if he doesn't do it, but no matter what, I still want to see a
Deadpool movie get made. But only if it's canon and awesome. Please, none of that
Punisher / League of Extraordinary Gentlemen / Catwoman / Batman and Robin / Elektra shi-- sorry. I got a little carried away there. None of the godawful FAIL that was present in those movie adaptations, is what I meant to say. So: assuming FOX
1 manages not to screw anything up (big assumption, but hey), and assuming the script is killer fantastic (which it sounds like it will be, thanks to the pop culture and dark humor-savvy writers of
Zombieland), who else can we think of to play Deadpool? Well now, how about... Or maybe there's... Hey, there's always... Yeah, sorry, guys, damned if I know. But I hold out the hope that right this minute, somehow, somewhere, possibly in training at a top-secret military facility in Canada, there's an up-and-coming actor who will be able to step in and hurl a razor-sharp katana right into the bulls-eye of stellar movie-making if Ryan Reynolds bows out. Who's with me?
1The funny thing about FOX doing Deadpool as part of the X-Men franchise is that, actually, Deadpool's not a mutant, nor was he ever an official member of any X-Men group until very recently, when he got pulled into the X-Force storyline. In fact, there are running jokes throughout the Deadpool titles about how he's not an X-Man or a mutant. Obviously I don't know what FOX's contracts say, but if, for instance, they have the rights to all Marvel mutants ... technically, that wouldn't include Deadpool. Since day one he's been a mutate, which means he wasn't born a mutant; his mutant power is the result of scientists giving him Wolverine's healing factor. Of course, I assume FOX's lawyers have closed any loopholes on this, and now that he's working with X-Force there's the "he is on the team now" argument to be made. But hey, a girl can dream, right? Imagine a Deadpool movie made by Marvel, instead. Just imagine it. There. Didn't that feel good? Now get back to reality.