Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy is a big fan of the Merc With a Mouth’s pansexuality.
During an interview with Wired‘s Angela Watercutter, Levy discussed pivoting from family comedies to projects with more “[s]exually-tinged dialog” — such as Marvel Studios‘ upcoming Deadpool threequel. “The pansexual openness of Deadpool is delightful,” he said.
Watercutter pointed out that 20th Century Fox’s Ryan Reynolds-led Deadpool films seemed to be ahead of the curve with respect to queer representation in comic book movies. “I couldn’t agree more,” Levy replied. “I love that Deadpool is so audaciously ahead-of-his-time fluid.” The director also addressed the recent trend of some schools in the United States attempting to ban books with LGBTQ+ themes and characters. “Imagine being scared of ideas,” he said. “That’s weak.”
To Levy and Watercutter’s point, director David Leitch’s Deadpool 2 (2018) is notable for being the first big-screen Marvel adaptation to feature a same-sex couple — that being the pairing of Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) and Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna). Hildebrand and Katsuna are attached to reprise their respective roles in Levy’s Deadpool 3.
As for Deadpool himself, comic book writer Gerry Duggan first described the Merc With a Mouth as being omnisexual/pansexual in 2013. Like Leitch’s sequel, director Tim Miller’s Deadpool (2016) depicted Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Reynolds) as being in a committed relationship with Vanessa Carlysle (Morena Baccarin, who also returns in Deadpool 3). However, both films also adapted Wade’s tendency to flirt with anyone, regardless of their gender. “Pansexual!” Miller told Collider in 2015. “I want that quoted. Pansexual Deadpool.”
Wade Wilson teams up with Logan in Deadpool 3
Deadpool 3 sees the eponymous anti-hero make the jump from Fox’s X-Men universe to Disney and Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick — who wrote the two Fox-era films — return to pen the screenplay for Levy’s threequel. Levy himself is also contributing to the script, as are returning star Reynolds and comic book writer Zeb Wells.
Of course, Reynolds’ Deadpool won’t be traveling the multiverse alone. Fellow X-Men franchise alum Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as James “Logan” Howlett/Wolverine. Daredevil (2003) alum Jennifer Garner is also attached to reprise her role as Elektra. Many similar multiversal cameos are rumored, though Levy is keeping tight-lipped on the matter.
At any rate, Deadpool 3’s release date is in flux at the moment. The film was previously slated for May 3, 2024. However, it is expected to be delayed due to the still-ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
