While it’s tempting to pile on Fox for not acting onDeadpoolsooner, keep in mind that conventional wisdom is considered wise for a reason. R-rated films cut out a percentage of the potential audience, a loud fanbase doesn’t necessarily mean mainstream moviegoers will share in the love, andRyan Reynoldshas had a string of flops. Fox had reasons to be skittish, but thankfully the passion of Reynolds, directorTim Miller, producerSimon Kinberg, and writersRhett ReeseandPaul Wernickkept the flame alive, and now they’ve ended up with a record-breaking hit that got asequel greenlitbefore the film even opened.
So now that we’ve seen the strengths and weaknesses ofDeadpool, what do we want from that sequel? Where does the Merc with a Mouth go from here? Here are five suggestions.[Minor spoilers ahead forDeadpool]
Don’t Play It Safe
Deadpoolmay not be PG-13, but he doesn’t upend the superhero genre. It’s pretty much a typical superhero movie but packed with more swearing and bloodshed, which is whatKick-Assdid a few years ago. The movie does have Deadpool breaking the fourth wall, but not as much as he could, and not using it to maximum effect. In the comics,Deadpoolconstantly addresses the reader and comments on his situation, and a sequel can go a step further. Kick off the movie with some gloating, poke fun at the studio, and then show off your shiny, brand new budget with a balls-to-the-wall action scene.
Bigger Visuals
I was willing to giveDeadpoolsome leeway on its set pieces considering its limited budget, but hopefully Fox will loosen the purse strings now that the film has proved itself to be a worldwide hit. Audiences will demand far more than a shootout on a highway and a battle on a tanker between Deadpool and a bunch of nameless thugs. If Miller returns to direct, the opening credits ofDeadpoolandThe Girl with the Dragon Tattooshow he has an eye towards dazzling visuals, and I would like to see him build on that and perhaps even work it into the movie.Deadpool: The Comic plays with the language of comic books; it would be great ifDeadpool 2played with the language of cinema a bit more than “Hey, we’ve caught up with our flashback device.”
Taking on the Superhero Genre
Deadpoolmakes some soft jabs at other superhero movies, and the strongest punches are reserved for agreed-upon failures likesGreen LanternandX-Men Origins: Wolverine, but the movie doesn’t really have an eye towards the larger superhero landscape. We’re at a fascinating time when it comes to superhero adaptations: It’s Marvel vs. DC at the box office, there are superhero shows flourishing on TV, andDeadpoolis irreverent enough to throw out some commentary on everything.Deadpool 2doesn’t have to tear down the genre or ignore its own story in favor of punditry, but it should at least acknowledge that there’s a bigger universe out there even if it can’t name certain properties or companies.
Cable is a big character in theDeadpoolcomics.He’s already been mentionedas a possibility for the sequel.Stephen Lang(Avatar) is actively campaigning for the role. He’s a terrific foil forDeadpool, and while there’s a bit of that contrast between Deadpool and Colossus, Cable does it far better because you get the sense that he can hold his own as a personality rather than Colossus, who does it mostly through physicality. At the very least, dipping into the comics gets you to…
The Seeds of X-Force
And this is whereDeadpoolcan really pay dividends. Right now, all that Fox has going for it in terms of superhero team movies isX-Men, and none of those movies performed as well asDeadpoolon its opening weekend. Granted, part of that is due to IMAX, the marketing campaign, and other factors, but the fact still remains that Fox now has an avenue to build towards a new team franchise and it’s one that Marvel and Warner Bros. aren’t going to be touch. Those studios have basically gone on record to say, “Our upcoming team movies are PG-13”. Fox could have the first R-rated superhero team movie, andDeadpool 2can be the bridge to that movie.
