20th Century Fox shocked everyone in late September when they announced that a new ‘Deadpool’ movie would open in theaters on December 21. Though it wasn’t revealed at the time, it is now known that this picture will be an edited form of ‘Deadpool 2’ cut down for a PG-13 rating in order to deliver the Merc with a Mouth’s exploits to a younger audience that was snubbed by the original R rating.
But screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick assure that this isn’t just a watered-down “radio edit” of the film that was already released in theaters in May and is, ironically, already on Blu-Ray in an extended “unrated” cut that is even more explicit than the theatrical version.
Wernick said:
“We definitely shot new stuff. And recently too. After ‘Deadpool 2’ came out and we were all sitting around, we came to it less about the idea of let’s make a PG-13 movie and more, ‘Let’s talk a little bit about Deadpool.’ We were kicking around some ideas and then I think it was Ryan [Reynolds] who had the great framing device and we all got excited and went to the studio. They said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it. Fire up the cameras.’ About two months ago we were out on soundstages shooting again. Ryan was in the suit and the gang was back together, [director] Dave Leitch and Ryan and us having a great time and laughing. It comes together great so we’re super excited about it.”
He also assured that those that have already seen ‘Deadpool 2’ will enjoy this repackaged version.
“I think it’s not only going to appeal to kids but also to people who love Deadpool. I think it’s subversive enough and fun and creative and something that only Deadpool could do. So I think it’s going to be a real joy for not only a whole new audience, but also an audience that has seen and loved the Deadpool movies.”
Even with newer footage, the major storyline of ‘Deadpool 2’ will remain intact, and as has been revealed through a photo released by Reynolds, there will be a new ‘Princess Bride’-inspired framing sequence featuring Fred Savage.
Reese previously explained that, yes indeed, this edited version of ‘Deadpool 2’ is for parents of kids too young to be admitted to R-rated movies in theaters. This could have to do with the fact that ‘Deadpool 2’ underperformed at the box office compared to the first movie. There’s also the fact that Fox was bought out by Disney and the possibility that ‘Deadpool’ might be woven into the PG-13 Marvel Cinematic Universe, which may have led to the decision to re-cut the film.
This version of ‘Deadpool 2’ will open on December 21, the same day as ‘Aquaman’ and ‘Bumblebee’ and just a few days after the release of ‘Mary Poppins Returns’, so it remains to be seen whether viewers would rather have a new meal or reheated leftovers.
Will you be checking out ‘Deadpool 2’ when it returns to theaters?
Source: /Film
