If this were a different kind of site, this story would have the word TOLDJA in the headline. Thank god that will never be us. So instead, just a reminder to set the stage: Remember when we speculated months ago that casting Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern might mean bad things for Deadpool because the studios wouldn’t want him playing two superheroes? That seems to be coming true.
Deadpool creator Robert Liefeld has taken to Twitter and started hinting that the Deadpool movie may be struggling. He says, “Warner Bros. just trying to protect their investment. They don't want Ryan Reynolds playing Deadpool AND Green Lantern. Interesting 2 watch.”
Warner Bros. is making Green Lantern but Deadpool is set up at Fox. So it makes sense that the studios might not be happy to have Reynolds playing a competing superhero character at another studio, it’ll only weaken their brand. Obviously Green Lantern is the bigger movie and for Reynolds, the priority. Whether they can get Reynolds out of his Deadpool deal with Fox… is unknown. But you can see why they might want to, particularly with the rumors that WB plans to shoot two more Green Lantern movies immediately, keeping Reynolds far too busy to run off and shoot a Deadpool movie.
Liefeld believes it’s Ryan Reynolds or bust for his Deadpool franchise. He tweets, “Bottom line about Deadpool film is that if FOX doesn't pull the DP film together with Ryan Reynolds between GL films-they should Hari Kari.” And adds, ‘Ryan Reynolds is the new Will Smith, if FOX can't maximize this window of opportunity with this star, this character, that script=MASSV FAIL.” But it’s far from a done deal and it’s not entirely clear whether Liefeld has inside information or he’s just reacting to rumor and speculation on the internet. He has to know something, doesn’t he? It’s his character after all and he clearly doesn’t have a problem with Ryan Reynolds moonlighting as another superhero. Liefeld suggests, “Hopefully cool heads prevail and are reminded of Harrison Ford and how he played Indiana Jones and Han Solo simultaneously.”
With Robert Rodriguez reportedly in negotiations to direct the Deadpool movie and rumors circulating which indicate Fox is trying to pin Reynolds down on a shooting schedule, this should come to a head pretty soon. I for one, agree with Liefeld. There is no Deadpool without Ryan Reynolds. He made the fast talking, amoral character worth revisiting with his all too brief performance in Wolverine and if he’s not playing him, there’s probably no reason to make the movie.
