CONFIRMED: Ryan Reynolds Will Play R-Rated Deadpool in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Fans have been eagerly anticipating the introduction of the X-Men and the Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ever since the acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney. It’s never been a question of if will we see them rubbing elbows with the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy in future movies, but when we will. The same can not be said for the X-Men’s foul-mouthed, fourth wall-breaking, ultra-violent anti-hero Deadpool.

With all MCU movies soundly in PG-13 territory, the raunchy, R-rated Deadpool franchise did not seem to easily mesh with Disney’s family theme, which made a lot of fans nervous. Would we ever seen Ryan Reynolds’ brand of comedy in the MCU or would he be replaced? Would the MCU Deadpool be a kinder, gentler, Merc with a Mouth? It’s seems that fans have no reason to be concerned, after all, as Marvel President Kevin Feige revealed to Collider that Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds, will be a part of the MCU and keep his edge:

It will be rated R and we are working on a script right now, and Ryan’s overseeing a script right now… It will not be [filming] this year. Ryan is a very busy, very successful actor. We’ve got a number of things we’ve already announced that we now have to make, but it’s exciting for it to have begun. Again, a very different type of character in the MCU, and Ryan is a force of nature, which is just awesome to see him bring that character to life.

Of course, there’s still no mention of how or when Deadpool will make his first MCU appearance, whether directly in a Deadpool 3 or in one or more cameo roles in other movies like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness or in Sony-Marvel’s sequel to Spider-Man: Far From Home, both of which are presumed to deal with characters from other realities or universes crossing over with one another. It’s likely that ol’ Wade Wilson will appear in one of the latter’s first, as it would easily explain how a Fox universe character played by the Fox actor — Reynolds — winds up in the MCU, whereas other characters like Wolverine will likely make the crossover, but not be played by original Fox actor Hugh Jackman in the MCU.

Sister-writers Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin and Wendy Molyneux are currently at work on the script for Deadpool 3, with Reynolds serving as creative consultant. It will likely begin filming sometime in 2022, at the earliest.

Images courtesy of Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox; Edits by Movie Nooz