The response to that test video must've got some folks really excited.
After years and years of painstaking development (that seemed hindered from the start by a bumfuck of an appearance in X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE), it seems that Fox is finally pulling the trigger on their DEADPOOL movie. They've carved out a February 12, 2016 release date for the Merc with the Mouth, who is still expected to be played by everybody's favorite coffin occupant/Lantern Corps. member, Ryan Reynolds.
Interestingly enough, Fox picked currently the busiest date in Feb. '16 to slot in their Marvel adaptation. You got Alex Proyas' GODS OF EGYPT, an untitled Universal animated flick about pets, and the rom-com HOW TO BE SINGLE opening the same way.
Which doesn't sound that bad, until you realize that aside from those three, the only other release scheduled for that February is BEN-HUR on the 26th. So there was definitely wiggle room in that month.
Tim Miller, who put that test reel together with Reynolds, is still attached to direct.
The potential of this project has been obvious to many of us from the get-go, but that test reel really set in stone how funny, energetic, and self-reflexive a well-executed DEADPOOL flick could be, even while using the same actor who got his mouth sewn shut in ORIGINS. It's a tough character to get right, particularly in a big studio flick, but considering how long they've been working on this project (and considering the damage ORIGINS did to the character's public image), I don't think Miller or Reynolds would commit to anything less than the ultra-violent, ultra-hilarious DEADPOOL movie we've all been waiting for.
Here's how Reynolds described the reaction to the reel to Niagra Falls Review (via Schmoes Know):
"The movie has been in a state of limbo for a while. There was such an overpowering reaction to the footage, you sort of feel like, ‘Oh, so we weren’t crazy for our reasons for loving this character, for loving this role.’ It’s interesting to see the power of the Internet. It’s awe-inspiring, actually. And it’s neat that Twitter and Facebook and Instagram can move mountains when used in the right way."
Keep an ear open for annoucements re: the writers and cast.
DEADPOOL will slice 'ya, dice 'ya, and entice 'ya on February 12, 2016.
