The ‘Deadpool’ mastermind is toying with writing treatments for a film that would feature three or four members of Marvel’s mutant team, but has not yet pitched an idea to the studio.
In the wake of Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds held firm in his stance that another solo Deadpool outing wasn’t in the cards. This was despite the film raking in $1.338 billion worldwide—an impressive figure that underscored both his creative influence on the franchise and his status as Marvel Studios’ most valuable new asset.
Now, nine months after Deadpool & Wolverine claimed the title of highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, Reynolds is quietly planning his return to the character—but, staying true to his word, not as the star of a standalone sequel.
Ryan Reynolds is currently exploring ideas for a Deadpool movie that would incorporate X-Men characters, while also continuing work on the Paramount comedy Boy Band, which he’s been scripting for much of the year, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.
The multi-hyphenate is developing several treatments for an ensemble film featuring three or four X-Men characters. While Deadpool would appear, Reynolds is reportedly considering a more supporting role for the Merc with a Mouth. The rationale? Taking Deadpool out of the spotlight might allow for fresh, unexpected uses of the X-Men characters. Reynolds has long said that each Deadpool film needs a strong creative reason to exist, and this team-up concept might just be it.
Importantly, this potential film is separate from the X-Men project currently being written by Hunger Games scribe Michael Lesslie for Marvel Studios.
There’s no confirmation yet on which X-Men characters Reynolds is eyeing, though speculation has swirled. Oscar-nominated Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, whom Reynolds honored at the National Board of Review in January alongside co-star Ariana Grande, has publicly expressed interest in playing Storm in the MCU. However, any casting decisions would ultimately fall under Marvel’s purview.
The project remains in its earliest stages and is far from official. Reynolds is currently developing the concept independently of Marvel Studios. This isn’t out of character—he’s known for tinkering with multiple iterations of a story before landing on the right fit. Prior to Deadpool & Wolverine, he had pitched a minimalist, low-budget Deadpool road trip movie.
Reynolds is no stranger to the X-Men universe. Deadpool & Wolverine featured classic villains like Sabretooth (Tyler Mane) and Pyro (Aaron Stanford), while Colossus (Stefan Kapičić) has been a staple in all three Deadpool films. He famously convinced Hugh Jackman to return as Wolverine and even wrote a role for Channing Tatum—long attached to a shelved Gambit movie—which never made it into the final cut. Tatum is now set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, alongside returning stars from the original Fox-era X-Men franchise: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, and Rebecca Romijn.
Meanwhile, Reynolds’ focus on writing comes during a planned break from filming—and amid a legal battle involving his wife Blake Lively and her It Ends with Us director/co-star Justin Baldoni. Reynolds, named in the suit alongside Lively, is seeking dismissal from the case through his attorneys. A trial is scheduled for March if no settlement is reached.
Reynolds is also revising the script for Boy Band, a Paramount project in which he will star as a former pop idol. His close friend Hugh Jackman is eyeing a co-starring role, and the film is expected to include a slew of high-profile cameos. Although no production or release date has been set, the project reflects Reynolds’ broader shift in recent years toward writing and producing.
“I’m more passionate about storytelling than I am about acting,” Reynolds told THR in a 2023 interview. “If I win, great. If I lose, I get to also feel like I was the architect of my own demise.”
At the time, Reynolds also acknowledged that while Deadpool might one day appear alongside the X-Men or Avengers, it would come at a cost to the character’s core identity. “His ultimate dream is to be accepted and appreciated. But he can’t be accepted,” he said. “His coping mechanism of deflecting shame through humor works only when used to pave over his many inadequacies. If and when he does become an Avenger or X-Man, we’re at the end of his journey.”
He echoed that sentiment just last month at the Time 100 Summit. “I like that he’s isolated,” Reynolds said. “If Deadpool becomes an Avenger or an X-Man, we’re at the end. That’s his wish fulfillment, and you can’t give him that.”
