Shortly after issues surrounding Deadpool 2 signaled a possible delayed release, 20th Century Fox has laid out the constructive framework of their films going forward. Although the sequel to Deadpool has still not found its director, a report with The Hollywood Reporter has stated that Fox is already planning Deadpool 3 and include the X-Force. This seems like a natural progression with the sequel’s plans of including Cable who serves as leader of the X-Force in the comics. Other notable characters on the super powered team include expert marksman Domino (Currently being cast for Deadpool 2) and the titanium giant Colossus. The original plan for X-force was that it would have its own theatrical debut as a film of its own. Perhaps due to the lackluster performance by X-Men: Apocalypse, the final installment of the X-men ‘prequel’ trilogy, the studio wants to gravitate everything around their most beloved – and profitable – hero in Deadpool.

This begs the question, will we see another X-men film? With Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), James McAvoy (Charles Xavier), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), and Nicholas Hoult (Beast) all concluding their three-film contracts with Apocalypse, Fox will most likely choose not to reenter negotiations. Not only would it be costly to get these highly sought after actors back, but Apocalypse fell over $200M in the worldwide box office compared to its predecessor Days of Future Past. Furthermore, the upcoming film Logan is set to be the last time Hugh Jackman will be playing the character of Wolverine. Even if they choose to reboot the franchise, it is unlikely we will see any of these integral characters again. These casting problems compiled with seamlessly never-ending continuity issues that most fans face as they struggle to understand what’s occurring within the X-Men universe, hardly make it a stretch to assume this is the end for the X-Men as we know it.

It appears as though Fox’s solution is attempting to mimic Marvel and create a cinematic universe of their own using Deadpool as their franchise’s Iron Man. If everything goes according to plan, maybe we could see the X-Men again or perhaps the X-Force could fill the void they leave behind.