Don’t Expect An Ajax Origins Story In Deadpool, Says Ed Skrein

Ever since fans laid eyes on the first frame of Deadpool‘s test reel late last year, it was evident that Ryan Reynolds’ second stab at the Merc with a Mouth held the potential to go on and become one of – if not the – most faithful comic book adaptations in years. Fast forward to now and we’re within 6 months from D day – that is, when Tim Miller’s R-rated superhero flick will be dragged kicking and screaming into theaters.

With the glorious red-band trailer now in the public’s hands, we’re beginning to learn a bit more about the film’s expanded roster of characters, not to mention the role of Colossus and those Green Lantern jibes. Now, thanks to an interview with Digital Spy, today we’ve got the skinny on Ed Skrein’s rendition of Ajax.

Acting as one of the lead villains to Ryan Reynolds’ foul-mouthed protagonist, The Transporter Refueled star noted that while Miller and Fox’s recreation of Ajax remains true to the lore, don’t be holding out hope for a detailed origins story for the character.

“No, we don’t go too deep into Ajax’s backstory. We mention it, it’s very faithful to the first section of Ajax in the comics, the backstory that we see, the flashbacks in the comics, and so we’re very faithful to that. There’s a second half of Ajax in the comics, where he comes back five years later with this big crazy suit and stuff, and we didn’t touch on that, so this is the early Ajax. We’ve stayed very faithful to that.”

Alas, it’s not too surprising that Skrein’s character and the backstory he entails has been reined in for the greater good. Miller’s picture is, first and foremost, a Deadpool origin tale, and considering that the director has to delegate enough screentime to Morena Baccarin (Copycat), T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, and Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead), there’s already plenty to cram in to the specified running time.

Deadpool will launch into theaters on February 12, 2016. Mind you, with talk of a sequel already doing the rounds, it’ll be interesting to see whether these characters have a place in Fox’s grand plans.