Much to the joy of comic-book aficionados everywhere, the Merc with the Mouth is finally coming to the big screen in a standalone film, and 20th Century Fox certainly isn’t wasting much time in figuring out who will be joining Ryan Reynolds for the project.
The studio has made test deals with a small group of actresses for the female lead in Deadpool; currently in contention for the high-profile role are Homeland actress Morena Baccarin, Orange is the New Black star Taylor Schilling, Teen Wolf‘s Crystal Reed, Red Band Society breakout Rebecca Rittenhouse, Vikings actress Sarah Greene and Arrow‘s Jessica De Gouw.
No word yet on which character that talented sextet of actresses is competing for the opportunity to play, but it’s exciting to see that such incredible performers as Baccarin and Schilling are in the mix. With production kicking off in March, we’ll likely find out which actress wins the part soon enough.
Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick scripted Deadpool, which Tim Miller (a visual effects whiz) will direct after years of developing the project. Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg are both attached as producers.
Deadpool will introduce audiences to Wade Wilson, a smart-mouthed killer-for-hire with terminal cancer who (at least in the X-Men Origins: Wolverine timeline) undergoes risky experiments at the hands of the U.S. government in hopes of gaining Wolverine’s mutant healing factor. The procedures leave him horrifically scarred, though he does gain the healing ability and essential indestructibility.
Needless to say, this new Deadpool won’t make the colossal mistake of zipping the quick-witted character’s mouth shut – expect it to hew closer to the awesome test footage leaked last July. T.J. Miller and Ed Skrein are expected to co-star in the film, which Fox has set for release in February of 2016. With shooting due to get under way in Vancouver this spring, we’ll be hearing more casting news before long.
