Furthermore, if Fox and Seed Productions (Hugh’s production company) have any interest in challenging the Dark Knight, there’s no better saga than Wolverine’s Japanese saga to do it with (at least, with that character). It will probably be a lot easier to make a movie that nay sayers for the first film find more appealing, at least one that will seem less cliche. The first film was an action hero origin story – there’s bound to be some “paint by numbers” elements in there. There’s a lot of great stuff in Japan, though, and more than enough for Hughverine to let his acting “chops” shine (was that too horrible a pun?).
There of course will be people who comment about inaccuracies after the film comes out, but we’ll leave that for when we get to it. I for one fully support this endeavor, and I look forward to attending this on it’s opening night. Just one note, though: can we please cut down the mutant cameos this time around? You know what I’m talking about. Thanks.
So. We’ve come to this, have we? The moment so many of us had been waiting for: the announcement of an official movie starring Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. All across the words, fans rejoice before pausing, taking a step back and saying, “Wait. What? How?” For you see, as much we’d all love to see Ryan pick up two swords and an armada of guns as a wise cracking mercenary again, is this a good idea? Well, let’s break it down bit by bit and see if we can come up with some kind of resolution.
1. How are they going to make a Deadpool movie with the character created in Wolverine? This is the only place to start. Now, I’ve mentioned in the past the benefits to the Deadpool character. Not only did it solidify Reynolds in the role as Wilson, but it offered up an origin that is exclusive to the film series. However, where you move with the character depends on what ending you believe in. Either way, Reynolds has stated (as I posted the other day) that he would be strict in keeping the character to his roots, so how do we clean up?
In regards to the confirmed ending, you have to somehow retcon the additions to the character from the film. Deadpool did have the ability to heal (more powerfully than Wolverine could, in fact), and he could also teleport, but that was due to a device. Lazer eyes, swords in his veins… that all has to go. So how do we get rid of it? Pretty simply: in the film, they state that all of the powers they put into Weapon XI hadn’t fully bonded to him yet. In a simple moment of handwavium, we can say that due to Weapon XI getting his head cut off, it screwed up the implanted mutant powers. Deadpool has a healing factor that’s far advanced than any other mutants, and we could hypothesize that the healing factor rejected all the additional powers given to him. Another staple of the character was that he had cancer and that was the reason he enlisted in the Weapon X program in the first place. His scarring came when his accelerated healing factor bonded with his cancer and, while it cured him, left him horribly disfigured and mentally unstable. In the movie, we don’t have any indication of a cancer subplot… but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be there. A simple line of dialogue can be used to add that in as an afterthought. Ryan Reynolds also confirmed that “Deadpool would get scarred in (Wolverine),” and as we saw the character certainly was rather ugly. While this is not classic Deadpool scarring by any means, it is scarring none the less (even though I don’t see the resemblance of a Shar-Pei). Besides, Deadpool almost ALWAYS has a mask on anyway, so it’s not like it really matters what he looks like underneath.
Continued belowIn regards to the non-confirmed ending, you have absolute free reign with the character to do whatever you want. You still have a fresh faced Reynolds looking for some work, and from there you can make any sequel you please. However, since there is no proof for this ending other than word of mouth at this point (seeing as the other two have made their way to the internet), we can’t assume to move forward from this point.
2. What the heck is this movie going to be about? Well, that’s an excellent question. I really don’t know, and I really don’t see how they could go about making this. An animated movie I’m all for, as we’ve seen that an animated Deadpool can be quite awesome. But a full length feature film made in Hollywood? I’m not confident about that. For the most part, the reason I’m not confident is because I myself don’t know how I’d write the film, and I’ve read just about every comic book Deadpool has so much as spent one panel in. Don’t get me wrong, I love Reynolds as an actor and as the character, but look at Deadpool’s supporting cast: Weasel and Blind Al I can see easily, maybe even Sandi, sure, but HYDRA Bob? Garrison Kane? Siryn, Agent X, Taskmaster, and Cable? Domino and Typhoid Mary? And who is going to be the antagonist, T-Ray? Bullseye? No matter how I wrap my head around it, I just don’t see it working out. Deadpool’s characters work in the comic books because everyone is established elsewhere (to a degree, at least).
When Reynolds discusses the movie, he name drops Black Tom and Cable as possible characters, and he shows he knows what he’s talking about and that he’s a fan of the books (considering Black Tom hasn’t been a real Deadpool antagonist about since 1997 with the limited series). Reynolds also makes a good point in suggesting a solo Cable movie first before the two pair up on screen and do a buddy cop superhero film. But is all of this really feasible? No, not really. Not to mention there are certain elements that can only be featured in the comic book, such as his little yellow thought bubbles (who now spend half the books fighting a white thought bubble). We don’t want to end up with another Watchmen on our hands, now do we? When Fox and Marvel agree to make a film based around Deadpool, they walk along a very tight rope in order to please the fans of the character. Deadpool has the very definition of a cult following, to which I am a member. When you put Deadpool as a secondary character like with Wolverine, I find that concessions in the character are alright, especially with a Wade Wilson cameo in the beginning. When you dedicate an entire 2 hours to a character like that, though, I expect some accuracy, and so does the rest of the cult.
I guess when it comes down to it, there are only a few solutions I can see. The first is to hire someone like David S. Goyer along with Daniel Way, and that way you have not only someone who is familiar with Reynolds’ ability as an actor and someone who is familiar with Deadpool as a character but two people who are passionate towards the endgame of making a great Deadpool film. It’s possible to make a movie starring Deadpool with absolutely no other super people in it, because Deadpool is a mercenary and could just as easily end up in some kind of odd betrayal plot (just ask Mike Benson if you can borrow his Suicide Kings plot). There’s no reason to crowd the movie with super villains and some kind of redemption to Wilson’s life. He doesn’t need to be a hero. His motivations are money, women, and the ability to kill another human being (or “other”). All Reynolds needs to do is put on his iconic mask, pack some over-sized guns, and kill kill kill. Oh, and perhaps some killing on the side. Also, keep in mind that while Deadpool is aware that he is in a comic and he does frequently break the fourth wall, it’s not a constant element of his books. It’s something that happens sparingly and is usually timed right. The people writing the movie need to remember not to over-do that, and while he is very funny, Deadpool is a menacing character who many people fear. He needs to have a brutal side that elicits fear, or at least some form of “serious face” from time to time.
