Fox has found a director to tackle the next chapter in their X-universe.Drew Goddard(Marvel’s Daredevil) has been tapped to both write and direct theDeadpoolspinoffX-Force. According toDeadline, the movie focuses on a Black Ops force of “down and dirty” mutant warriors, led by Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Cable (the latter of whom will be introduced in the soon to comeDeadpool 2, and is portrayed byJosh Brolin).X-MenregularsSimon KinbergandLauren Shuler Donnerare producing alongside Reynolds.
Goddard has long ties in genre entertainment as a screenwriter, writing forBuffy the Vampire Slayer,Angel, andAlias, before moving into features withCloverfield,The Cabin in the WoodsandWorld War Z. He earned an Oscar nomination last year for his smart adaptedThe Martianscreenplay, and next, he’s set to take on Fox’sBad Times at the El RoyalewithChris HemsworthandJeff Bridges. Godard will write, direct and produce the mysterious pic (the story is still being kept secret) and then roll intoX-Force.
Godard helped launch Netflix’sDaredevilseries and was set to make his big screen debut in the Marvelverse with Sony’sThe Sinister Sixbefore the studio scrapped the project in favor of a new Spidey reboot. Now he’s finally got a superhero franchise to call his own, and as a sharp, agile genre writer with a fan’s love for the characters, he’s a fantastic pick for the material.
As for Fox, since the studio’s bigDeadpoolgamble paid off, they’ve continued to make bold and encouraging choices by spinning their X-Men universe in new directions without feeling beholden to the central franchise of films. That’s how we ended up with this year’sLogan, hands down one of the best superhero films of all time. Next up, the studio has Deadpool 2 from John Wick co-director David Leitch, Kinberg’s X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and Josh Boone’s New Mutants, which is being billed as a superhero horror film
