Deadpool 2 director David Leitch opens up about what it would take to get him to return to the franchise, and it seems like his time on the Merc with the Mouth is over. Leitch directed 2018’s Deadpool 2 after original Deadpool director Tim Miller walked away from the project. Despite Deadpool 2 being a box office hit, grossing $785.9 million worldwide and becoming the ninth highest-grossing film of 2018, Leitch did not return to the franchise. Instead, Shawn Levy helmed the recent Deadpool & Wolverine, a movie that grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Leitch talked about what it would take for him to return to the Deadpool franchise. However, while the action movie filmmaker is open to returning to work with Marvel, he seems to be more interested in working on projects from the ground up and having a certain level of creative control. In terms of returning to Deadpool, Leitch said:
“Yes, the answer is yes. If we were in charge of the architecture of a universe that was around a particular IP, that scratches the creative itch. It’s less of the director-producer for hire and more, ‘If you want to let us architect the universe, that’s really exciting to us.’ We’re looking for those opportunities, and if that comes our way, we’ll entertain them. Kelly [McCormick] in particular is building our own franchises.”
David Leitch & Deadpool’s Future
Given Leitch’s comments about wanting to oversee a larger part of the franchise, it is unlikely that he will return to helm either a Deadpool film or any film in the MCU. Even before joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Deadpool’s main overriding creative voice on the franchise has been Ryan Reynolds. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, meanwhile, is overseen by Kevin Feige. Directors have brought their personal visions to life in films, such as Ryan Coogler in Black Panther or James Gunn in Guardians of the Galaxy, but Kevin Feige serves as the overall creative voice behind the MCU.
Following his breakout co-directing the hit John Wick and his solo follow-up, Atomic Blonde, Leitch became a franchise director, working on both Deadpool 2 and The Fast & the Furious: Hobbs and Shaw back to back. Now, though, he has taken to adapting IP that can seemingly launch a new franchise, like last summer’s The Fall Guy, where Leitch put his own spin on the classic television show. This might be why Leitch passed on directing Jurassic World: Rebirth, as he didn’t want to make another entry in someone else’s franchise.
Leitch is currently set to direct a Gears of War for Netflix, an adaptation of a big-budget sci-fi video game, and one that seemingly can launch into a long-running franchise that Leitch can set the tone for. Leitch, along with his wife, Kelly McCormick, also produces films like Nobody and A Violent Night through their production company, 87North Productions, which has spawned franchises of their own. Deadpool, meanwhile, is seemingly set to play an important role in the MCU’s future, as Ryan Reynolds teased the character’s involvement in Avengers: Doomsday. No official confirmation has been announced, but given Deadpool & Wolverine‘s box office fortunes, it feels safe to say Deadpool will play some role in the Multiverse Saga’s conclusion.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
