‘Deadpool 2’: All the Essentials in One Place

The Merc with the Mouth is coming back in Deadpool 2. The original film was the most commercially successful installment of the X-Men franchise ever, earning a surprising $786 million worldwide when it opened in February 2016. It also remains perhaps the most beloved of the X-Men spinoffs (sorry Wolverine).

There are still a lot of question marks, but here’s what we know so far:

WHO’S MAKING IT?

The behind-the-scenes shuffling on Deadpool 2 have been nerve-racking to watch for fans. Ryan Reynolds is returning as Wade Wilson/Deadpool, but in a surprise move, director Tim Miller pulled out of the sequel Oct. 22 over creative differences with Reynolds (composer Tom Holkenborg left soon after). John Wick filmmaker David Leitch closed a deal in November to take over in the director’s chair. Currently, Deadpool screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are returning to work on the project, which has not announced a release date or cast.

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WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

No plot details have been divulged, but Deadpool‘s post-credits scene established that the popular mutant hero Cable will be involved (no one has been cast). In the comics, he’s a mutant from the future who is the son of Cyclops and a clone of Jean Grey — and he’s got a real thing for guns (hey, that works well with the John Wick theme).

“Amazing character. Bionic arm. Time travel,” Deadpool says in the post-credits scene. “We have no idea who we’re going to cast yet, but it could be anybody. We just need a big guy with a flat top. It could be Mel Gibson. Dolph Lundgren. Keira Knightley — She’s got range.”

DEADPOOL 3

There’s a silver lining for fans upset over Miller’s exit: Fox is already working on a Deadpool 3, with the mutant team X-Force set to be involved. 

We’ll keep updating this post as we learn more.