20th Century Fox has finally settled on Drew Goddard to direct its X-Force movie!
In 2013, we learned that the studio was developing an X-Force movie written and directed by Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2). The project stalled out for a couple of years, but the success of 2016’s Deadpool revived it. A while back, a report suggested that Joe Carnahan (The Grey) would direct and co-write the script with Ryan Reynolds.
Among a number of other outlets, Deadline has confirmed that Goddard will write and direct the X-Men spinoff. The movie was described as follows:
[It] revolves around Deadpool and Cable leading a Black Ops force of down-and-dirty mutant warriors, who are far more ruthless than their X-Men counterparts.
Reynolds is no longer contributing as a screenwriter, but he’ll definitely return as the Merc with a Mouth. In addition, Josh Brolin will return as Cable.
The latest reports didn’t name specific characters who might appear in the live-action X-Force movie, but it feels safe to assume that Zazie Beetz will return as Domino. Reynolds, Simon Kinberg, and Lauren Shuler Donner will produce.
Goddard has written scripts for several big-screen ventures, and earned an Academy Award nomination for the script for The Martian. His single directorial credit was the horror comedy The Cabin in the Woods. But prior to the X-Force movie, he’ll call the shots for Fox's Chris Hemsworth and Jeff Bridges starrer, Bad Times at the El Royale.
As the creator of the first Marvel/Netflix joint venture, Daredevil, Goddard is no stranger to the world of superheroes. He was also signed to direct Sony Pictures’ Sinister Six movie. Unfortunately, the project was scrapped following Sony’s historic deal with Marvel Studios over the rights to Spider-Man.
