Deadpool 3 Not Coming for at least 5 Years: Rob Liefeld to io9

After two films that grossed almost $800 million each, a growing, and a lead actor getting more popular by the day, a third Deadpool film feels like a no-brainer. However, if you’ve been reading headlines over the past few days, one person seems to have been very vocal about that not happening: Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld.

 

Marvel fans shouldn’t expect to see a new “Deadpool” movie for at least five years, according to the character’s comic book creator Rob Liefeld.

 

In an interview with io9, Liefeld explained that he’s seen the Marvel Cinematic Universe schedule for the next five years, and “Deadpool 3” isn’t on the card.

 

“Until a movie is put on a schedule, it’s not taken seriously. And what people don’t like is that I have assessed the schedule for the next — give or take — five years and I don’t see ‘Deadpool’ on it. I don’t see that it can arrive earlier than that,” he said.

 

“Do I know that there is no movement on a Deadpool 3 right now? I know that. Yes,” Liefeld told io9. “And does that worry me? No. Not at all. What I did was I answered a question honestly. And what I learned this week is just lie. Just tell people everything is lollipop and unicorns and rainbows and you’ll be better off in your life because people want to be lied to. Just because some guy goes, ‘Yeah, We’re still moving along’ that’s code for ‘There’s nothing to see here.’”

 

The comic book writer addressed how some of his previous comments about the lack of production on “Deadpool 3” were misinterpreted as a knock against Marvel. He said that next time he’s questioned about it he should lie in order to not rile up fans.

 

The fact is, after the release of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel had a multi-year plan in place. A plan that was in place before Disney bought Fox, which resulted in Deadpool, as well as the other X-Men, becoming available to the company. A plan that got increasingly more complicated in recent years with the addition of the streaming service Disney+ to its creative output. With all that in mind, Liefeld believes his statement that Marvel is to blame for the lack of another Deadpool film is logical rather than venomous.

 

The currently announced MCU plans include “Black Widow,” “The Eternals,” “Shang-Chi,” “Blade” and sequels to “Doctor Strange,” “Thor: Ragnorak,” “Captain Marvel,” “Black Panther” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” The farthest-out movies are dated for 2022.

 

With Disney’s PG-13 ratings on its superhero films, the R-rated “Deadpool” may be tricky to accommodate. However, Liefeld thinks there’s enough interest in the property that Marvel should be planning a third installment sooner rather than later.

 

“My whole thing is you get access to this franchise, go give it priority,” he said. “That’s not me acting pretentious. That’s me going, ‘This is a pretty valuable commodity.’ I also have three teenagers and I see how fast their interests come and go and how everything is vying for their attention at all times.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, several of the Marvel films have gotten pushed back, and Fox’s leftover X-Men film “New Mutants” finally received a release date after Disney’s acquisition. However, it’s unclear how this affects its movies with previously unannounced dates.

 

“My take on ‘Deadpool 3’ is it’s not a huge priority. I wouldn’t look for it any time soon,” Liefeld said. “If it was greenlit tomorrow, it’s not coming out until I’m a lot older.”

 

The co-creator also freely admits he has a financial stake in Deadpool. Liefeld made deals when he first created the character that gives him royalties anytime the character is used anywhere: merchandise, video games, and yes, movies. “When Deadpool exploded onto Fortnite, was that really good for my kids’ private education? Yes. Yes, it was,” he said. “I have Deadpool revenue streams that have existed since 1991...I already get paid. If you make this movie or not, I’m getting a fat check.”

 

The creator also gave some input on how a future “Deadpool” installment should be made.

“My opinion is Ryan Reynolds should be steering the ship and just completely handed the reins. Even to the point of plugging characters in,” he said. “Give him three characters he can integrate and let him integrate them. If people ask what I want to see, that’s where it begins. Just please don’t micromanage the guy. Just give him free rein.”