For the past week, “Deadpool” fans have been tossing out suggestions on should replace director Tim Miller on the sequel, after he exited the picture over the weekend. A petition has started to get Quentin Tarantino to sign up for the job, as if he’s the only person who’s ever combined an R-rating, violence and comedy, but there are plenty of other worthy candidates (here’s our picks). However, it seems like Ryan Reynolds and 20th Century Fox have found their man.
Mashable reports that “John Wick” co-director David Leitch is now the frontrunner for the gig. While his experience on the Keanu Reeves action flick speaks for itself, he was also the action coordinator on “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” where Reynolds first played Deadpool, so he has some experience with the actor. In addition, Leitch has a long resume of second unit and stunt work, and he’s recently wrapped directing his second feature film, “The Coldest City” starring Charlize Theron (“John Wick: Chapter 2” is being helmed by Leitch’s partner on the first film, Chad Stahelski).
While there are apparently other names in the mix, with Deadline adding that Drew Goddard (“Cabin The Woods,” writer of “The Martian“) and Magnus Martens (“Luke Cage,” “Banshee“), Leitch is apparently the top choice, though a formal offer has yet to go out. All things considered, he’s a pretty excellent pick. “John Wick” not only featured terrifically choreographed action scenes, it also had the kind of breezy self-awareness that shows Leitch can likely handle the tone of “Deadpool 2” with no problem. And it’s likely it wouldn’t take much to get Leitch up and running with the sequel versus a filmmaker with less action experience.
We’ll see if this name sticks. “Deadpool 2” opens in 2018.