Hold on to your chimichangas, folks! Deadpool, everyone’s favorite Merc with a Mouth, is about to face a formidable opponent in his upcoming movie: the Writer’s Guild of America strike. Brace yourself, because the wisecracks might be in short supply this time.
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The Strike’s Impact on Deadpool 3
Principal photography for Deadpool 3 commenced on May 22, a mere 20 days after the Writer’s Guild strike went into effect. This highly anticipated film marks the return of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman to the X-Men franchise, as well as their debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Fans can hardly contain their excitement to see these R-rated antiheroes spice things up in the MCU. However, we must temper our expectations, as forces beyond Marvel’s control come into play.
The Rule of the Writer’s Guild
Under the regulations of the Writer’s Guild, writers are strictly prohibited from contributing to any production during a strike. Failure to comply with this rule can effectively end a writer’s career. On the other hand, non-writers are allowed to make only minor modifications to scripts, as we witnessed with Daniel Craig’s involvement in “Quantum of Solace” during a previous strike.
Ryan Reynolds, who is credited as one of the writers for Deadpool 3, finds himself caught in a challenging scenario. He must adhere to the Writer’s Guild rules, meaning he cannot make any changes to the script whatsoever.
A Challenge for Reynolds and Marvel
This presents a significant challenge for both Reynolds and Marvel. Reynolds is renowned for his improvisational skills, often conjuring up jokes on the spot. Back in 2016, while promoting the first Deadpool, he mentioned to Entertainment Weekly, “In between takes I’m just looking at them and I’m trying different ones.”
Even after filming completed for Deadpool 2, Reynolds continued to share new jokes with the composer, Tyler Bates, as revealed in a 2018 interview.
Marvel, as a whole, operates with a similar degree of fluidity. They frequently rely on reshoots to fine-tune their movies, allowing them to shape the final product. On-set script rewrites, where writers are present during production to make additional changes, are commonplace in the industry.
They serve as a vital necessity on Marvel’s complex and expensive productions. However, if Deadpool 3 must adhere to these strict restrictions, it may risk losing the essence of what makes a Deadpool movie truly unique.
The Significance of the Writer’s Strike
Let’s not underestimate the power of the Writer’s Guild strike to impact the quality of shows and movies. “Make no mistake, the editing room and the soundstage are the final rewrites of any episode of television,” explained an anonymous TV writer to The Los Angeles Times.
A writers’ strike can have a substantial impact on the quality of the material produced. Additionally, ongoing TV shows that find themselves in the midst of their seasons may face a complete shutdown if scripts are not available to shoot.
Could Deadpool 3 Face Delays or Shutdown?
This challenging scenario might be short-lived, as production on Deadpool 3 could potentially come to a halt. On May 26, just days after cameras started rolling for the film, Fran Drescher, the President of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), urged fellow actors to vote “Yes” on their own strike.
Hollywood actors share similar concerns to writers when it comes to pay equity and residuals in the streaming era. On June 7, SAG-AFTRA will commence negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, representing studios like Marvel, as their current contract expires on June 30. If actors also decide to strike, Marvel will find itself facing a multitude of problems beyond the lack of improv.
The Future of Deadpool 3
Despite the challenges ahead, fans can still mark their calendars for November 8, 2024. That’s when Deadpool 3 is set to hit theaters, bringing the irreverent and charismatic Wade Wilson back to the big screen.
Let’s hope that the creative forces at Marvel and Ryan Reynolds can navigate these hurdles and deliver the Deadpool experience we all know and love. Whether the Merc with a Mouth’s jokes are dialed down or not, one thing’s for sure: Deadpool 3 will be a wild ride that we won’t want to miss.
