During the lengthy development of the eighth X-Men installment we were revealed interesting details about the upcoming Deadpool movie. So far, so good.
Those who have followed the unfolding of events around the production might be familiar with Ajax, the antagonist in the story; one of the reasons Deadpool seeks revenge. He is controversial and twisted, and “a very fun character to play” at the same time, Skrein says.
Ed Skrein portrays Ajax in the upcoming Deadpool movie, and he talked about his role in an interview for Screenrant. Skrein is a fan of comic books and he mentioned that he is really excited that the script sticks to the original source. It seems that his character will resemble the original, a man known as Francis who has had his nerves removed for better pain management and who was part of the experiment that ruined Deadpool's life.
Regarding the relationship between Deadpool and Ajax, it is known that is one of mutual hatred, but Skrein points out that Deadpool's reasons are more legit (further on he describes the relationship in a way that creates ambiguosity).
"What's interesting about Ajax is he's had all of his nerve endings removed. So he can't feel anything. He can't feel pain. But that also, I think, has affected him psychologically as well. His motivations with Deadpool"¦ I think Deadpool's motivations towards Ajax are a lot stronger and full of a lot more visceral feelings than Ajax towards Deadpool. Chaos and violence is just what Ajax does. It's just a game. It's sort of just one big fun game. Win or lose, he feels nothing. So, yes, there is revenge, but it's not as strong a motivator as Deadpool."
Deadpool is sticking to the original source
Skrein was asked if, like in the comic books, Ajax will be annoyed by Wade Wilson finding about his other name, Francis and using this to irritate him. Here's what he answered:
"Our relationship is very much motivating by his baiting and goading of Ajax. The way he"¦I said that Ajax is very sort of placid and relaxed in a lot of his approach. But he oversteps the marker by finding out that my name is Francis, and I've obviously changed my name to something a little cooler and more masculine, to Ajax. That's what he thinks, anyway."
From a very deep perspective, Ed Skrein talks from Ajax's point of view, stating that Deadpool should thank Ajax for wanting to make him better through mutation. This doesn't happen, of course, but the way he talks about it, creates another image for Ajax, building ambiguity around the character:
"I think in Ajax's eyes he's improving him. All of Ajax's victims are actually people that were going to die anyway and that he helps him to stay alive and to improve himself through mutation. Sometimes that mutation goes extremely well, sometimes it doesn't. And to turn him into a mutant, really to subject him to extreme stress. So the disfiguration was just part of the process of making him better, of improving him, of helping him. In fact, I don't think we're enemies. I think Ajax is"¦you know, he should thank Ajax."
According to Skrein, the movie will be a real enchantment for comic book fans, and the relationship between Ajax and Deadpool will spice up the story. He also revealed that Ajax will not have a costume and will leave that to the superheroes, focusing more on running an organization and being all about controlling the world inside the Workshop.
What do you think about the way Ajax is portrayed by Ed Skrein and the way he refers to his relationship with Deadpool?