Tim Miller, director of the highly successful and critically acclaimed "Deadpool" film starring Ryan Reynolds, departed from the development of the sequel due to creative differences. It has now been confirmed that "John Wick" director David Leitch has stepped up to take over to helm "Deadpool 2."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Fox was looking into several directors before Leitch signed on. Rupert Sanders, Magnus Martens, and Drew Goddard were all taken into consideration, but it was Leitch who won the director's spot after meeting with Ryan Reynolds in New York.
Leitch has served as a stunt double for Jean-Claude Van Damme and Brad Pitt. He has also acted in several films and TV projects and did stunt work on more than 60 films such as "V for Vendetta," "The Matrix Revolutions," and "The Bourne Ultimatum."
He later served as a second unit director for films like "Jurassic World" and "Captain America: Civil War." He made his directorial debut in "John Wick" and then later directed the upcoming 2017 flick "The Coldest City."
As pointed out in a report from Cinema Blend, Leitch is well-versed in filming action sequences, and his previous work as a stunt man gives him an advantage in shooting sequences using practical effects instead of CGI. Leitch is also well fit for the job given he has already worked on Rated-R action material before.
The report also reveals that the studios are already taking "Deadpool 3" into consideration and that the third film will be helmed by a different director. This will ensure that all three "Deadpool" movies will have a slightly different style and substance, akin to how the "Mission Impossible" films are different from each other. The third film will reportedly feature the X-Force.
No official release date for "Deadpool 3" has been announced yet. "Deadpool 2" will enter production in 2017, and it is currently scheduled to premiere on Jan. 12, 2018.
