It hasn’t even opened yet, but Fox is banking on big dollars from this weekend’s Deadpool opening. Looking at estimates as high as $70 million over the President’s Day stretch, the studio has gone ahead and green-lighted a sequel according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick will reportedly be returning, as will star Ryan Reynolds, who will likely be seeing a huge boost in his star-power over the next few days.
With the Wolverine series potentially coming to a close barring a recasting, Fox has sought a big solo franchise to take its place. Gambit, starring Channing Tatum and directed by Doug Liman, was one option, but a big money weekend for Deadpool and where that may lead (sequels, X-Force feature) may give them just what they needed.
Read The Beat’s review of Deadpool before it opens this weekend.
