Deadpool 2 casting is imminent, so here's everything we know so far

2016 was an eventful year for comic book movies, with an array of successes, disappointments, and downright disasters.

‘Deadpool’ was one 2016’s success stories. In fact, it was one of the year’s biggest, most profitable films, making an impressive $783m from a $58m budget. As well as a number of positive reviews, it out-grossed ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’s’ $544m despite it costing three times the amount to make. It also outshone mega budget titles such as the panned ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’, so a sequel was always on the cards.

While the first film’s writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were talking to Comicbook.com about their new sci-fi-horror ‘Life’, the pair commented on how ‘Deadpool 2’ would be cast imminently. With Reese confirming a shortlist was prepped for remaining roles, Wernick said: “An announcement will be coming very soon. We’re gonna go into production in the next couple of months and cast announcements will be coming fast and furious.”

But what do we know about the film so far?

Who’s directing it?

Well, despite ‘Deadpool’s’ director Tim Miller tipped to helm the sequel, he walked away from further association with the franchise, leaving the door open for David Leitch. Despite having very little directing experience other than an uncredited effort on ‘John Wick’ and command of upcoming action-thriller ‘Atomic Blonde’, he’s but a handful of producer roles too.

Who’s in it and which new characters are joining?

Ryan Reynolds is of course returning as the Merc with a Mouth; now a fan favourite having eviscerated his time as Green Lantern and really owning this part.

While ‘Atlanta’ star Zazie Beetz is now confirmed as bounty hunter Domino, the jury is very much out on who’ll take the coveted role of Cable. Plenty of names have been bandied about, including ‘Avatar’s’ Stephen Lang who voiced his interest very early on and arguably looks the best fit in terms of stature and resemblance. Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan has been rumoured, alongside Nathan Fillion and Russell Crowe, but it seems new names are linked each week. The latest person who has apparently already done a screen test is ‘Stranger Things’ actor David Harbour, yet his involvement is unconfirmed. Oh, and Jon Hamm has been mentioned for the part as well.

Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) are set to return after brief yet likeable roles during the first movie. T.J. Miller’s Weasel is at present rumoured to return, with Miller having previously been happy to talk about his involvement in ‘Deadpool’s’ future and beyond with a spin-off (although we’re unsure if he was joking about the latter).

But who’s Cable?

The clear focus for new additions will be Cable, a time-travelling soldier who comes from a distant future and unknown timeline to prevent catastrophes in our present. Real name Nathan Summers, he is the offspring of X-Men Jean Grey and Cyclops. Cable’s addition is likely to be the biggest new feature of the follow-up, as he looks set to play a sizeable part alongside Reynolds.

The shoot for the movie is set to begin this June (so they’d best tie up the cast pretty soon), and have a release date scheduled for 2018 – believed to be pre-summer.

Is there a trailer?

No, not technically. The other week a short scene emerged online that saw Wade Wilson witness a robbery and comically get changed in a nearby phone booth to save the day. Unfortunately he takes too long, the prep escapes and the victim winds up dead.

While it’s a very funny short clip and fans loved it, it’s not an actual trailer for the movie. Instead, it’s a short film of sorts, as confirmed by co-writer Reese.

What about its plot?

In truth we don’t know much. Nothing has been revealed about what our foul-mouthed hero will get up to, but it’s likely it’ll encompass a new story indirectly leading on from the first. After all, that narrative was, for all intents and purposes, concluded: Ed Skrein’s Ajax was defeated and Wade saved and reunited with his love Vanessa (Morena Baccarin).

With Cable’s addition, it could lead to a future ‘X-Force’ film that Joe Carnahan is rumoured to be directing. As per the first movie, the sequel should be another self-contained story but leave enough loose ends to link to any spin-offs a la their versions of ‘Avengers Assemble’, ‘Justice League’, or ‘Suicide Squad’ with the possibility of ‘X-Force’.

Essentially we’ve still a lot to learn about ‘Deadpool 2′ but we at least know the style of the first will carry over with Reynolds’ charisma and imput as an actor. If that short film is any indication, then the comedy looks set to continue with another exciting, well cast comic book movie.

‘Deadpool 2’ is in cinemas in early 2018.

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