'Deadpool 3' Now Scrapped at Disney, Marvel Star Ryan Reynolds Speaks Out

Marvel star Ryan Reynolds, who is known for portraying Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool, on the big screen, has spoken out about the now-scrapped third movie.

A scene from a Marvel movie featuring a diverse group of men in a tactical-looking elevator, with Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson in a blue suit and tactical harness looking intently forward. — Credit: 20th Century Studios

In just three weeks, Ryan Reynolds will return as the Merc with a Mouth Deadpool for the first time since 2018. Joined by his real-life friend and legacy Marvel star, Hugh Jackman (Logan/Wolverine), the pair will make their official Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in director Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).

Despite its now tentpole status as Marvel Studios’ only MCU movie releasing this year, the third Deadpool movie was not always at a blockbuster level.

Wolverine and Deadpool stand in the middle of a deserted street, dressed in their superhero costumes, with a damaged pharmacy and debris in the background. — Credit: Marvel Studios

For context, prior to The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox and its 20th Century Fox studio, plans were underway to bring Deadpool back for a third movie.

Deadpool 3, as writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick described, was initially planned to be a much quieter entry compared to Tim Miller and David Leitch’s previous installments. The duo shared that the Deadpool threequel would be a more personal tale, while the future X-Force movie would expand Fox’s superhero universe.

Deadpool with the iconic red and black mask, armed with swords on their back, posing confidently. — Credit: 20th Century Studios

But, with the Mouse now in control, all those Deadpool franchise plans–including the planned future X-Men movies–were scrapped entirely. Earlier this year, Dopinder actor Karan Soni explained what those original plans entailed.

Soni told Screen Rant that Deadpool 3 was potentially going to be a road-trip movie with Wade Wilson heading to the North Pole to save Christmas. This would have been the second Holiday-themed movie for the Merc after 2018’s Deadpool 2 retelling, Once Upon a Deadpool.

Deadpool (L) and Dopinder (R) — Credit: 20th Century Studios

However, with Disney and Marvel Studios now at the wheel, it became time to merge the Fox universe of characters, such as Deadpool and the X-Men, into the MCU.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige had been planning on bringing the mutants in first, according to an Empire report in May 2024, but Ryan Reynolds (multiple) Deadpool 3 pitches got the ball rolling with that character instead.

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) in 'Deadpool 2' — Credit: 20th Century Studios

Now, Ryan Reynolds has spoken out about the scrapped Deadpool 3 plans ahead of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s global release later this month.

“Literally, it was a $5 or $6 million budget with no special effects,” Reynolds told Entertainment Weekly. “It was just a talkie-talkie road trip with me and Dopinder [Karan Soni] and some of the things we collected and saw along the way.”

A person with a heavily textured, bumpy complexion stares intensely. They have short, disheveled hair and wear a green jacket over a shirt with a red floral pattern. They stand against a dark, weathered wooden door with a peephole. — Credit: Marvel Studios

While Reynolds doesn’t mention the Christmas plot as part of this original Deadpool 3 idea, it does line up with what Soni shared earlier this year.

“It wasn’t meant to be an event movie,” the Deadpool actor added. “If we’re on our way to Point C, it was meant to just get us to Point B. That was the weirdest one. I liked it. I thought it was kind of fun.”

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool — Credit: 20th Century Studios

That “Point C” would likely have been the aforementioned X-Force movie that 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) was developing.

The story details of the third movie aren’t the only thing that Marvel Studios scrapped; Deadpool 3 as a name has been officially rejected by director Shawn Levy.

Deadpool and Wolverine in a yellow and blue costume, jump through a glowing circular portal, holding hands. Explosive scenery with smoke and debris is visible in the background. — Credit: Marvel Studios

The Stranger Things producer addressed the title a few months ago, stating that Deadpool & Wolverine is not Deadpool 3. He shared that the upcoming Marvel film, as its title suggests, is a “two-hander character adventure.”

Judging by the footage that has been released thus far, from the initial Super Bowl LVIII teaser to the subsequent trailers and TV spots, the “two-hander” nature is quite clearly evident.

Deadpool holding a small, suited creature, standing next to Wolverine, with a serious expression, in a gloomy urban setting from Deadpool 3. — Credit: Marvel Studios

The upcoming film will see the titular duo tackle new Multiversal threats. In a movie set to be packed with cameos from across the various superhero universes, a potential MCU refresh is underway.

It’s not all cameos and hark back to past events, though. Emma Corrin will also make her MCU debut as Cassandra Nova, a character from Marvel Comics who is related to X-Men leader Professor Charles Xavier, AKA Professor X.

Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova — Credit: Marvel Studios

Similarly, Matthew Macfadyen will appear for the first time in the franchise as Time Variance Authority agent Mr. Paradox. The TVA grew to prominence in the Disney+ show Loki and is apparently eager to alter the events of the cinematic universe using “Marvel Jesus” (Deadpool…) as their chosen fighter.

There is a lot of pressure riding on Deadpool & Wolverine, but luckily, audiences are already behind the movie. As Forbes reported in June, Levy’s film broke pre-sale ticket records for an R-rated movie, and it is now eyeing a domestic opening weekend haul of up to $239 million.

A person in a red and black superhero costume, clearly Deadpool from the Marvel universe, equipped with two swords on their back, is sitting on a ledge or rooftop reading a piece of paper. The background features a modern building with balconies. — Credit: 20th Century Studios

To put it into perspective, Disney and Pixar’s most recent outing, Inside Out 2 (2024), became the biggest opening of the year with $155 domestically and close to $300 million worldwide. The animated sequel recently crossed the $1 billion mark in record time.

This all suggests that Deadpool & Wolverine will be a return to form, at least in the box office sense, for Marvel Studios and, by extension, The Walt Disney Company.

A person in a red and black full-body suit, unmistakably reminiscent of Deadpool, wearing a mask with white eye patches and two swords strapped to their back, is pointing forward with their right hand. The background is light, suggesting an outdoor setting. — Credit: Marvel Studios

It’s no secret the superhero franchise has suffered in recent years. With the influx of Disney+ stories and an oversaturation of sequels, audience reception to the MCU has severely waned ever since Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).

Last year was seemingly the last straw. As projects like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and The Marvels (2023) bombed at the box office, change was implemented across the studio. Most notable was Disney CEO Bob Iger’s announcement on capping the annual distribution of film and television content.

Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson in the teaser for 'Deadpool & Wolverine' — Credit: Marvel Studios

It will be interesting to see how much Deadpool & Wolverine changes the future of the MCU, considering that the parties involved have stated the adventure to be very much standalone in nature. All will be revealed–including whether the post-credits scene will be “mind-blowing” or not–on July 26, when the film officially hits movie theaters.

Are you happy the original Deadpool 3 plan was scrapped? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!