Director Shawn Levy of ‘Deadpool 3’ is optimistic that the ongoing strike by Hollywood’s writers and actors can be resolved so that production on his superhero film can resume. The dispute between the Writers Guild of America and the SAG-AFTRA actors union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) has brought the US entertainment industry to a halt. Levy had to halt production on his Marvel movie starring Ryan Reynolds when the strike occurred. He expressed his hope that the unions can come to an agreement with the AMPTP to get the movie back on track.
In an interview with Deadline.com, Levy stated, “We’re paused, like the rest of our industry. We were halfway through filming ‘Deadpool’ with Wolverine. It was a fantastic experience every day, and the chemistry was everything we had hoped for. Our crew and the rest of us are eagerly awaiting a fair resolution to these strikes that will allow us to get back to work and revive the industry, including our movie.”
‘Deadpool 3’ is scheduled to be released in May 2024, although it may face delays if the strikes persist. The film will feature Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine from the X-Men franchise, and Levy assures fans that the wait will be worth it. Describing the movie as raw and audacious with an R-rating, he emphasized the use of practical sets instead of digital environments to create a grounded and authentic feel. Levy stated that the combination of Reynolds as Deadpool and Jackman as Wolverine will result in a film reminiscent of ‘Midnight Run’, ’48 Hours’, and ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’, rather than a parody like ‘Airplane’.