‘Deadpool 4’ Finally Gets Status Update From Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds has helped turn Deadpool into one of the most popular and profitable superheroes in the world, with the long-awaited team-up between the Merc with a Mouth and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine culminating in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine after years of teases. Since that film’s release, there have been surprisingly few updates on Deadpool 4 or any future Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance for Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. The actor, though, has offered an update on the next Deadpool movie, and it sounds like it could be a wait.

In an interview with Collider, Reynolds was asked about updates regarding Deadpool’s MCU future. “I have a few things written that I love. I don’t know. We’ll figure out when the time is right. I’m not in any huge rush right now to do anything,” said Reynolds. While the actor didn’t provide any updates on exactly what he has been writing, he hinted that he wants the next project to be a surprise, so he is okay letting the project wait. Reynolds added, “Deadpool works best on both scarcity and surprise, so jumping right back into it full-on right now is probably something I’m not going to do.”

The character debuted in the very R-rated Deadpool back in 2016, and when The Walt Disney Company acquired 20th Century Fox, there was a lot of speculation about how the character would be integrated into the very PG-13 MCU. Reynolds offered more details about his experience working with Marvel Studios and how he wants to help on projects that he himself or Deadpool is involved in. He also spoke highly of his working relationship with Marvel Studios, saying:

“I’ve talked to Marvel off and on, always. We have a really great relationship, you know? It’s always a conversation. I’m always just looking to be additive and help on anything, even if it’s not a movie I’m in. And I’m always writing. I mean, it’s how I kind of get it out of my system. I love writing. That character and that world is one in which anything is possible, and that in and of itself allows for so much freedom and storytelling…I gotta say, that Marvel team, those guys have been incredible, all of them, and I’m really, really lucky to have the opportunity to work with them the way I have, as intimately as I have.”

Reynolds is certainly no stranger to waiting to return as Deadpool. It was a seven-year gap between the release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Reynolds’ live-action debut as the character, and the first Deadpool film. Then, following Disney’s purchase of Fox (with Disney later renaming it 20th Century Studios), the original plans for Deadpool 3 were scrapped in favor of incorporating the character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Releasing six years after Deadpool 2, Deadpool & Wolverine grossed $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the seventh highest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, alleviating any fears about the character being toned down.

While the natural assumption would be that Deadpool 4 would be put into development, based on that sequel’s success, Marvel Studios and Ryan Reynolds are not rushing another film into production. Instead, Marvel Studios is putting all of its emphasis right now on both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Given how many former X-Men characters from the 20th Century Fox films are confirmed to appear in Doomsday, an appearance by Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool is expected, though the actor has not yet been confirmed for the upcoming film.

Then there is the fact that Marvel Studios is moving forward with a planned X-Men reboot for Phase 7. With Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier set to helm the project and Sadie Sink rumored to play Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, X-Men is rumored to be the May 2028 release date Marvel Studios has secured, which would tie in with the MCU’s 20th anniversary. An all-new, rebooted X-Men raises the question of how Reynolds’ Deadpool will factor into this story.

With Avengers: Secret Wars rumored to do a slight reset of the MCU as we know it, Deadpool could be folded into the MCU with the new X-Men, but be the only one aware of the original multiverse timelines. Reynolds has already teased that the next Deadpool project could see him in a supporting role, possibly opening the door for him to team up with another hero, like Spider-Man, or that Deadpool could lead an X-Men spin-off title, like X-Force. Whatever happens, it seems that Reynolds and Marvel are not done with Deadpool, but all parties are waiting to see what the future of the MCU looks like over the next couple of years.