One of the biggest victories last year for geeks worldwide was when Fox Studios formally gave the greenlight for a live-action Deadpool film. The news got even better as actor and hands down fan-favorite Ryan Reynolds confirmed that he would headline the movie as Wade Wilson. After more than a decade of stymied efforts, the Merc with a Mouth is finally getting his due treatment on the big screen next year.

In a recent interview with MTV News while promoting his new film, Mississippi Grind, Reynolds spoke a little bit about the movie’s progress. The project was stuck in development hell for over a decade as the movie endured multiple false starts, while Reynolds hoped to get another chance to bring an authentic interpretation of the character to theaters. 

“It’s been a long time, but it’s happened in the right way and that’s all that matters. We don’t have the kind of money that most superhero movies do, but that’s great, actually. Necessity is the mother of invention, and that’s why we get to make the movie we want to make.”

Limitations are what can create classic films. By not having the money to simply shoot whatever is imaginable, sometimes forces filmmakers to make better stories and come up with more creative visual techniques. George Lucas had to contend with many budgetary and technological limits when he was creating the original Star Wars, in the 1970’s. Twenty years later he had to the tools to do whatever he could imagine and came up with The Phantom Menace. Many prefer the tactile feel of the original, including The Force Awakens’ JJ Abrams. In a film like Deadpool, the script and tone are way more crucial than expensive special effects. Capturing Wilson’s trademark wit, without the film feeling campy should be a higher priority. 

 

Deadpool will be directed by first-time director and Academy Award nominated visual effects veteran Tim Miller. He was the director of the short film that ultimately gave Fox Studios the confidence in the project. In his interview, Reynolds was jokingly asked if he actually leaked the test footage.

“No, no, no, of course not. You gotta have faith in the people you’re working with, and have faith in the prep, and that’s all I’m doing. On this one, the prep’s been 11 years. You’d like to think you’re putting your best foot forward, but we’ll see…I would have FOX’s lawyers so far up my ass they could smell Wade Wilson’s feet…No, no, no I didn’t leak it. But I would have. Looking back now, in a heartbeat. I should go home and scan the old hard drive and see what I’ve got in there.”

The film has begun the casting process. T.J. Miller (Big Hero 6, Transformers: Age of Extinction) and Ed Skrein (Game of Thrones) are rumored to have joined the cast. The script was written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who previously collaborated on Zombieland, which indicates that they should have a good grasp on the comic book’s unique viewpoint. 

Deadpool will hit theaters on February 12, 2016.

Are you excited for Deadpool? What storylines do you think they will adapt? Let us know on the comment boards, , , and !

Source: MTV News