Comics

New Director Takes Aim at R-rated ‘Deadpool’ Sequel

Published

7 years ago

October 28, 2016

Twentieth Century Fox took a huge risk in adapting Marvel’s Deadpool into a feature film, not only because the Rob Liefeld-created character isn’t well known, but because it was a hard “R” rating. It paid off in a huge way, being one of the most successful movies of the year. The movie was a passion project of both star Ryan Reynolds and director Tim Miller, which was eventually given the green light when a promo video went viral.

While everyone expected a sequel to be fast-tracked, and to go smoothly, Miller has exited the project citing “creative differences” with Reynolds. For the duo to have been on such the same page initially, it’s shocking to find out that Miller will no long return for a sequel. Now, this leaves Fox and Reynolds without a director, so who can quickly come in and keep the film from derailing? Mashable may have the answer, and it’s a doozy.

According to the site, John Wick‘s David Leitch (who is listed as uncredited in IMDb) is the frontrunner to direct Deadpool 2. The site adds that Leitch has history with all of the parties involved, including Reynolds, as he was the action coordinator on X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which introduced the actor as Wade Wilson. And John Wick, the Keanu Reeves 2014 cult hit, was extraordinarily popular with the genre crowd that is the foundation of Deadpool’s fan base.

Leitch has also worked with Fox and Marvel before, performing stunts for Blade, Daredevil and Fight Club, one of several films in which he was Brad Pitt’s stunt double. Perhaps more notably, Leitch has worked on action movies that have pushed the technological envelope, such as 300 and The Matrix sequels.

In regards to Miller’s exit from the sequel, The Wrap reports that Miller wanted “Bloodline” star Kyle Chandler to play Cable, though Reynolds did not and that the studio, ultimately, backed its marketable star. (Spoiler: Reynolds and the studio made a huge mistake as Chandler is an elite actor.)

With a January 12, 2018 release targeted by the studio, they better move quickly. It’s a real bummer to see Miller exit, especially after he and Reynolds collaborated on one of the best comic adaptation in years. But, Leitch is an exciting name that deserves this breakout opportunity. More than anything, I just want to see Cable in action…

deadpool-and-cable

Related Topics:David Leitch Deadpool Deadpool 2 Ryan Reynolds

Brad Miska

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

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Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

Published

6 days ago

April 18, 2024

Meagan Navarro

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.