When we last left Deadpool, also known as Wade Wilson, aka the Merc with a Mouth, aka the Crimson Comedian, he was being mentioned at the end of my previous blog as an example of a superhero that would make an excellent candidate for a film; one that would really speak to viewers in a relatable way that’s not possible with some of the chiseled from marble guys who are already lined up with release dates.
"You'd better have gotten that Batman reference in the title, scumbag"
I’m not alone. There is a definite cult devotion to this guy who seriously wants a true-to-the-source solid R Deadpool flick and who have felt that way since he first appeared on the big screen (kind of) in the X-Men prequel “Wolverine Origins”. A lot of people were disappointed by the direction he took in that film. After a promising introduction as the renegade sword-wielding mercenary on Wolverine and Sabretooth’s squad, Deadpool’s image was tarnished as his mouth was sewn shut and he was inexplicably given retractable arm swords ala Baraka.
As of late last year, the writing team of Rhett Reese and Paul Werneck – who were responsible for Zombieland – were the guys who were putting together a script for the Deadpool film. I loved Zombieland, thought it took on the zombie genre in a really innovative way, and think those two are a great fit for old DP. It also helps that Reese apparently feels the same way as I do about the character:
“Various writers have tackled him and I think that particular club of people have always enjoyed being able to just go places with a character that you wouldn’t be able to go with any other character. Because he’s completely crazy. That’s the joy of writing him. You don’t have to place any limits on decorum, or what might pop into his head, what reference he might make to pop culture. He’ll go anywhere and say anything and that’s the joy of writing him.”
And, for what it’s worth, so does the character’s creator Robert Liefeld:
“Dear FOX studios, get your act together. Deadpool is not Green Lantern, not a family film. DP is “filthy” think Expendables $$ w/ RR”
“Also FOX, find your balls and film the script from Rheese[sic] and Wernick. You will make loads of money and thank yourself later.”
- via Twitter
But what gives Deadpool fans this conviction? Why are they so determined that he be given his fair chance too? It’s a bit of a muddle but I think there are two reasons: first, as mentioned by Reese, he’s crazier than any other superhero out there. He does things other costumed heroes would never do. Not only does this open up all sorts of bad ass anti-hero scenarios that you just can’t tell when you’re making a movie about the usual good guys, but it also opens up limitless different ways these scenarios can twist, unfold, and unravel. Some of my favourite Deadpool comics have ended with some really surprising splash panels. In Deadpool #1 in the Invasion event he pledges allegiance to the Krull invaders. In a particularly memorable issue of Cable & Deadpool wherein Deadpool is playing the role of the noir hard-boiled detective, he comes to realize that he’s the murderer he was investigating.
Waiting for his movie to come out
The craziness also lends some creative possibilities to the person writing his dialogue. One of the cool things about his character is his general awareness of being in a comic book. This is related in his often dueling internal monologues, and of course through his trademark breaking of the fourth wall, wherein he might explain the clichéd predicament he and his comrades find themselves in, in relation to how the same situation fared for a famous gold or silver age Marvel comic hero. I can’t imagine a feature Deadpool movie without at least a couple of nods to his post-modern awareness of himself and the medium – although I concede it might be a little difficult to clarify that Deadpool has got at least two and occasionally three inner voices, each with their own bit to contribute.
Deadpool references a lot more than comics though. Deadpool will drop movie and television quotes at the drop of a hat whenever he thinks it will be comically or situationally apt. It makes no difference to him if those around him have seen the film he’s referencing or if it is at all relevant to what’s going on. He just says it. That’s crazy in his world, and other characters often call him out for this behaviour, but let me tell you, in my world it’s about as real as it gets. That’s why I feel justified in my next premise: Deadpool is more normal than any other super hero out there.
Wade Wilson is known to get star struck, and act out some real hero worship when around the major heavies. He’s ugly as sin, but in his own mind he’s a lady’s man. And sometimes he actually does the right thing and gets the girl anyways. However, as a perennial C-lister he’s also dealt with some serious inferiority complex issues. Isn’t it just perfect that he’s Canadian too?
In closing, I just think he’s a great character that would make a pretty interesting, potentially hilarious, and at the very least entertaining film. I’m not sure what to make of the recent cancellation of two different runs of Deadpool comics, but, I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of him.
In some other peculiar comic-related news, Stan Lee is making NHL-tie in heroes in something called the Guardian Project; and Conan O’Brien has a character based on himself on a show called ‘Young Justice’ called the Flaming C. He has a steamy oven mitt.
