'Deadpool' Director Tim Miller Exits Sequel Over Creative Differences With Ryan Reynolds
Tim Miller will not be returning to direct Deadpool, dropping out of the sequel due to a series of creative differences with star Ryan Reynolds, a source confirmed Saturday morning.
While Miller had not formally signed on the helm the sequel, he was in the process of developing the script and was widely expected to return. The source said the split with the project was amicable.
After Deadpool’s massive box-office success, a sequel was nearly inevitable, and was announced at CinemaCon back in April. There, Fox co-chairman Stacy Snider confirmed that Reynolds would be back, as well as Miller.
Miller gave Fox its biggest hit of the year with “Deadpool,” which grossed a whopping $786 million worldwide after opening on Valentine’s Day earlier this year. It’s the seventh-highest-grossing movie of 2016, and the highest-grossing R-rated film ever on worldwide basis.
Most of the creative team was set to return for “Deadpool 2,” with Snider also confirming at CinemaCon that screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick would be back to handle script duties. “Deadpool” reinvigorated Reynolds’ career after the actor suffered from flops like “RIPD” and “Green Lantern,” and threw Miller, also an animator and visual effects specialist, into the spotlight.
“Deadpool” was a hit with critics and fans alike. Along with its commercial success, critics handed it a 84% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it earned an A CinemaScore from fans.
The news of Miller’s exit was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
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