Ryan Reynolds is developing ideas for a new Deadpool film that would feature three or four X-Men characters instead of another solo outing.
Despite Deadpool & Wolverine grossing a staggering $1.338 billion and becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, Ryan Reynolds has held firm to his stance that he doesn’t see another solo Deadpool movie in his future. Still, he’s not done with the character just yet.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Ryan Reynolds is in the early stages of developing writing treatments for a potential new Marvel film that would team Deadpool with three or four X-Men characters. While Ryan Reynolds hasn’t pitched the idea to Marvel Studios yet, he’s actively tinkering with different versions of the story, potentially positioning Deadpool as a supporting player rather than the lead. The idea: allow the X-Men characters to shine in unexpected ways while still leveraging the popularity of Ryan Reynolds’ wisecracking anti-hero.
It’s a notable shift for Ryan Reynolds, who’s long emphasized that every Deadpool entry must have a strong creative reason to exist. Though he hasn’t revealed which mutants he’s eyeing, the possibilities are intriguing—especially with Oscar-nominated Wicked star Cynthia Erivo having publicly expressed interest in playing Storm in the MCU. Still, any casting decisions would ultimately be up to Marvel.
Ryan Reynolds is no stranger to the X-Men world. In Deadpool & Wolverine, he pulled in classic villains like Sabertooth (played by Tyler Mane) and Pyro (Aaron Stanford), while X-Men staples like Colossus (Stefan Kapičić) have appeared in all three Deadpool films. The film also marked the return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and featured a written role for Channing Tatum—who was once set to play Gambit—that will now pay off in Avengers: Doomsday alongside Fox-era mutants including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, and Rebecca Romijn.
While Ryan Reynolds’ mutant mashup is not officially connected to the separate X-Men movie currently being penned by Hunger Games writer Michael Lesslie, it underscores Marvel’s expanding exploration of the X-Men legacy as the studio integrates its newly acquired characters.
Ryan Reynolds’ creative energy lately has been focused on writing. In addition to the X-Men/Deadpool idea, he continues work on Boy Band, a comedy for Paramount about aging pop stars, which he’ll headline. Close friend Hugh Jackman is interested in co-starring, and the project is rich with cameo potential. There’s no start date or release date yet, but Reynolds’ shift into producing and writing reflects a broader pivot in his career.
“If I win, great. If I lose, I get to also feel like I was the architect of my own demise,” he told THR in a previous interview, explaining his increasing passion for storytelling over acting.
The actor’s renewed focus on development coincides with a break from filming and personal distractions, including the ongoing legal battle involving his wife Blake Lively and her It Ends with Us director/co-star Justin Baldoni. Ryan Reynolds has also been named in the lawsuit but is seeking dismissal through his legal team. If unresolved, a trial is slated for next March.
Though Ryan Reynolds has hinted that Deadpool could one day join the Avengers or X-Men, he also sees that as the end of the line for the character. “His ultimate dream is to be accepted and appreciated,” Ryan Reynolds said. “But he can’t be accepted… 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.”
Still, the idea of seeing Deadpool alongside the X-Men is clearly an enticing next step. Whether Marvel bites remains to be seen, but for now, Ryan Reynolds is quietly crafting what could be another mutant blockbuster—just not the one fans might expect.
