‘Deadpool’ Sequel: Marvel Gives The Green Light To Sequel Before ‘Deadpool’ Hits Theaters

Deadpool fans around the world are having a great week. Not only will they finally get to see their favorite mercenary on the big screen, but they also will get a sequel to one of the most anticipated comic book movies of 2016. Ryan Reynolds has signed on to once again become the “Merc with a Mouth” in the sequel, and both screenwriters, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, will tell the next chapter in the Deadpool legacy.

Get excited because a #Deadpool sequel is already in the works: https://t.co/DfS2e8K5i9 pic.twitter.com/Fw01KUGmJm

— MTV (@MTV) February 10, 2016

For those unfamiliar with the character, Deadpool is a comic book character in the Marvel Universe. The level of violence and humor makes Deadpool one of the rare comic book superheroes better suited for mature audiences. one of the most common tropes that writers of Deadpool uses in the comic world is breaking the fourth wall and addressing his audience directly. The moments where the fourth wall is broken are usually where the character’s humor is on full display. Deadpool clearly is self-aware of himself being a character in a fictional universe.

Audiences flocking to the theaters this weekend to see Deadpool should help the film earn between $60 million to $70 million in box-office sales. Movie experts had speculated that Deadpool would not make as much money, as it could due to the fact that it is a comic book movie that is rated R. An R rating for a superhero movie is extremely rare. The target market for this genre is usually children who are under 18-years-old. By making this type of movie with an R rating, Deadpool will be counting on a large enough adult fanbase to make a profit. Some consider this a very risky gamble while others state that Deadpool is a character that is not fit for children anyway.

These same experts are also the ones claiming that approving a sequel before the original opens is unwise. Marvel is no stranger to planning out their movie universe far into the future. Locking up Ryan Reynolds for a Deadpool sequel, along with the writers, will ensure that the sequel can go into production right away without waiting for their stars to finish up on other projects. Marvel also understands that the latest superhero movie boom has not shown any signs of slowing down. Except for Fantastic Four, no superhero movie has been considered a dud. To them, green lighting a sequel this early is not seen as a risk. This movie genre has essentially been a way for movie studios to print money. Ben Fritz is a writer for the Los Angeles Times, and he commented about planning sequels many years in the future.

“Scheduling movies three years in advance – let alone before production has been greenlighted – is unusual but not unprecedented in Hollywood, where claiming prime release dates for tentpole movies has become a fiercely competitive chess game.”

Todd Cunningham of the Wrap also comments on Deadpool’s plan to announce a sequel this early.

“When you’re spending north of $150 million on a movie, you want to be absolutely sure it has the optimum opening date – even if that means locking it down five years in advance.”

Fans have been waiting a long time to see Deadpool in a standalone movie. The wait is almost over. Do you think that Deadpool will perform better or worse than the estimated opening weekend of $70 million? Do you think they have made a mistake by giving the green light to a sequel this early?

[Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP]