Deadpool 2 has hired a new director: John Wick‘s David Leitch.

He replaces the original film’s director Tim Miller, who dropped out of the sequel last month (October). Though Miller and Ryan Reynolds enjoyed a close relationship while making the original film, sources told The Hollywood Reporter that “creative differences” prompted Miller’s exit from the sequel.

The same publication now reports that Leitch, who co-directed 2014’s Keanu Reeves-led action hit John Wick, has been offered the director’s chair on the sequel after a meeting with Reynolds in New York City.


After Miller dropped out, fans petitioned for Quentin Tarantino to direct its follow-up.

Made for an estimated $60 million (£45 million) – small for a superhero movie – this year’s Deadpool went on to gross a massive $780 million (£595 million) worldwide. The sequel is due to start shooting in early 2017.

Producer Simon Kinberg recently said of the sequel: “I think Deadpool 2 will comment on anything that’s happening in movies today especially in superhero movies. The sort of glut or saturation of these movies and the proliferation of sequels is definitely something we’ll play around with.”

Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who wrote the original film, are also scripting the sequel. The pair recently revealed they had to swap a character with Guardians Of The Galaxy in order to secure one of their film’s baddies.

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