The Writers of Deadpool 3 React to Almost Being Replaced by Marvel Studios 

Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool series has been on pause since Disney purchased the former X-Men studio, after two successful solo features in 2016 and 2018. Deadpool 3 has just began to move forward, with the writers from the previous films returning to compose the screenplay and Free Guy’s Shawn Levy joining as director. 

Despite promises from Disney and Marvel Studios, Fox fans are anxious that the Merc with a Mouth may shed his R-rated outrageousness for an MCU mainstay PG-13 classification. These worries were exacerbated when the writers of the previous two films, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, were replaced with Bob’s Burgers writers, but thankfully, the original crew is back. 

The authors of the prequels have revealed the writing process for their first MCU attempt as the highly anticipated third feature approaches production and eventual release. 

The Deadpool 3 Writers Discuss Joining the MCU

Deadpool 3 writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who wrote the previous two installments in the trilogy, responded to Marvel Studios’ initial intention to replace them with Bob’s Burgers’ Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin in a recent interview with The Playlist. 

Reese said that “that did happen,” but added that they’re glad to be back “in the crazy scientist lab making entertaining stuff:” 

“Yes, it did occur. And have a peek… The basic line is that it simply happened the way it did, but we’re glad to be back. We couldn’t be happier right now in the mad scientist lab doing interesting things, and maybe we’ll be able to get a movie out to you guys soon.” The author then expressed their resolve to “make it amazing.” Reese referred to the third installment as a “marriage between Fox and Disney,” vowing to “blend those… worlds:” 

“We want to make it fantastic.” We’re constantly working on it in the lab with Ryan Reynolds, and we’re having a great time. So, hopefully, that translates and will eventually amuse the rest of the globe. But, you know, it’s a marriage between Fox and Disney, and it’s a marriage of two distinct worlds that won’t be simple. But it’s also a fantastic challenge and, you know, high-level issue to be able to connect those, those worlds. So, we’re having a good time.” 

The interviewer then inquired as to what has been delaying the picture, querying if the franchise’s R-Rated nature or Deadpool’s Mutant nature is an issue, to which Reese said, “yes and no.” He did, however, assuage fears about integrating the Merc with a Mouth into the MCU by pledging that Disney would “let Deadpool be Deadpool:” 

“I mean, both yes and no.” Obviously, it’s two whole distinct regimes, right? So there are two distinct bureaucracies. It was Fox, all these various individuals, and it’s no longer those people. It is these [Disney] folks that do things their way. And we were used to doing things our way, so there are differences, but I think the great part is that Marvel’s been incredibly supportive. They are gonna let Deadpool be Deadpool, you know? It’s not like any single joke will be the one that people say, ‘you know, that’s too far,’ but so far, it’s been nothing but support.” 

Discussing the support Disney and Marvel Studios have offered, Reese promised they have been eager to help, make their life easier, and offer up content from the MCU for use: 

“It’s all been ‘how can we assist you?'” ‘What would you want to utilize from our universe?’ ‘How can we make your life easier?’ And we’re just going to let Deadpool be Deadpool. We’re not… this is not going to be the Disney-fied ‘Deadpool.’ So they’re fantastic, and now it’s up to us to live up to that trust.” 

Reese finished by reiterating previous assertions that Deadpool 3 would “definitely” remain R-rated since Disney will not “mess with the tone,” although there is a slight possibility that this may change: 

“Unquestionably. They’re not going to change the tone. I mean, I’d never say never, and there’s always the possibility, but we’ve always been told it can be R-[rated], and we’re acting as if it is. We’ve always preferred R, and I don’t believe that will change.” 

What Will MCU Deadpool Look Like?

Marvel Studios has yet to produce a project with the Deadpool franchise’s level of violence, vulgarity, sex, and outrageousness. The closest the Disney-owned company has gone to approaching the notorious heights of an R-rating was Moon Knight, and even that had a very PG-13 vibe about it. 

With these previous constraints in mind, there is reason to be concerned that Deadpool 3 will be “Disney-fied” to appeal to the PG-13 audience. However, if the movie’s authors’ remarks are to be believed, as well as previous assertions from Disney and Marvel Studios officials, the third part in the trilogy will be just as adult-oriented as the first two. 

In the comics, the Marvel world has always been immensely diverse; there is literally a hero and series for every age range. Hopefully, Deadpool 3 will be the first step toward introducing more adult material to the MCU, paving the way for R-rated movies starring The Punisher, Daredevil, and the Midnight Sons. 

Even if Deadpool should stay as insane as ever in his own movie, it doesn’t mean the Merc with a Mouth can’t appear in PG-13 films. Perhaps Ryan Reynolds’ Mutant could still feature in different team-ups, but with the gore dialed down to Moon Knight levels and the profanity dialed down, all while maintaining the normal cheeky tone. 

Deadpool 3 looks set to bring the anti-hero out of Fox’s X-Men universe and into the main MCU timeline, presumably through Multiverse-hopping. This might mean goodbye appearances for certain classic X-Men characters while also allowing for the inclusion of MCU fan favorites – Chris Hemsworth’s Thor has already been mentioned as one option. 

With Reynolds back in the costume, the same writers handling the screenplay, and Shawn Levy at the helm, the future of Deadpool seems to be in safe hands. Deadpool 3 has yet to be released, but with scripting now underway, 2024 may be a fair prediction.