DEADPOOL 2 Lost its Director Because He Allegeldy Wanted a Big Budget But Ryan Reynolds and the Writers Did Not

When it comes to DEADPOOL, one of the most impressive things was how it was made on such a small $58 million budget. When comparing current blockbuster super hero movies, budgets are usually in the $150 million and can get as high as $250 million. So when DEADPOOL took in over $780 million worldwide, it seemed logical to think that its budget would increase.

When reports hit last weekend that DEADPOOL director Tim Miller would not return to helm the sequel, due to "creative differences" with Ryan Reynolds, it was a shock because Miller was a big part of the reason the movie even got made. According to Deadline, Miller was allegeldy the person who leaked the DEADPOOL test footage in summer 2014 right after San Diego Comic-Con that set the Internet into a frenzy for Fox to finally make the movie.

Fast-forward to today and TheWrap has more details of the breakup between Miller, Reynolds and DEADPOOL 2* citing that Miller not only wanted a different actor as Cable than Reynolds wanted, but he wanted a much bigger budget to make a more stylized sequel. TheWrap writes:

"In initial sequel talks, Reynolds, Reese and Wernick envisioned a 'scrappy,' raunchy and inexpensive movie, the insider said — in the vein of the first, which earned over $780 million worldwide on a $58 million budget. It’s a stunning return on a film Reynolds lobbied 11 years to make. 

"Miller, known more for his visual flair than for the brash antics that Reynolds and his writers embraced and that fans loved, wanted a more stylish take, one that would compete with mega-budget superhero movies, insiders said. But it would have cost three times as much as the original $58 million film, the first individual said."

There's a lot to be said about this report so let's start with the fact Miller wanted a much bigger budget. This would the norm for most super hero franchises, but this is Deadpool and the fact it's an R-rated movie means it has a smaller audience than mainstream PG-13 films. With a smaller, adult-focused audience comes bigger risks if you increase its budget. If it struggles in the box office, then Fox's chances of losing money increases dramatically.

Also of note is that Reynolds, not Miller, is said to have wanted to maintain a smaller budget, like in the first films, as well as keep the raunch. This is kind of what makes Deadpool so special. He doesn't shoot lasers from his hands or wield a hammer that produces lightning or shoot heat beams from his eyes. Deadpool is as street-level as there is and even in the comics his life is mostly grit while always wanting the glamor. While the term gritty is overused in cinema today, DEADPOOL is exactly that and having a smaller budget really put the focus on the underbelly of society he dwells in.

So while it may sound like a bit of gloom and doom that DEADPOOL 2 lost director Tim Miller, he wanted to take it in another direction whereas Reynolds wants to maintain the tone, feel and raunch of the original. 

And that's fine as long as Fox and Reynolds can find a director who is on the same page.

DEADPOOL 2 is still planning to begin filming in early 2017 for an expected 2018 release.

* - We really like the title, DEADPOOL GOES NO. 2.


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