3/26/2018 – Nearly a year after the news broke that Donald Glover and his brother and writing partner Stephen Glover would be developing an animated Deadpool series for FX, the world has gotten word that the project has fallen through. As reported by Vulture, an official statement from the network released on Saturday has affirmed that all parties are severing ties over the would-be program. The press release cites the traditional “creative differences,” leading us to wonder why the Glover brothers’ Deadpool will never see the light of day, and what it may have looked like. (Hey, at least we’ve still got a new movie on the way!)
5/10/2017 – Let it never be said that when Fox does something, it doesn’t go full bore. After plunging head-on into television using their license of Marvel‘s X-Men titles, and scoring a hit with Legion on FX, it was only a matter of time before we’d get more. And yeah, it’s pretty cool that Bryan Singer is doing an X show on Fox proper, but that news now takes a major backseat to the announcement that FXX will produce an animated Deadpool television series, with Atlanta‘s Donald Glover and Stephen Glover running the thing. Holy f#$*in’ s#!$!!!!
This is such a genius idea for brining the swearing, fourth-wall-breaking, violent-as-heck mercenary to the small screen. Glover, after all, got his start writing for comedies like 30 Rock, and being a pretty terrific stand-up as well. Glover is currently involved in everything you like, appearing in Spider-Man: Homecoming later this year, cast as Lando Calrissian in the Han Solo movie next year, and let’s not forget getting to voice Simba himself in Jon Favreau’s The Lion King.
FX’s co-President of Original Programming, Nick Grad, said in a statement, “Donald Glover is an incredibly gifted and versatile artist who’ll bring the untitled Marvel’s Deadpool series to life with the same intense, singular vision as his breakout hit Atlanta…With the success of Legion, we’re looking forward to again partnering with Marvel Television to create a series that is bold, striking and entirely original.”
Additionally, Head of Marvel Television Jeph Loeb said of the announcement “How much more fun could this be? Deadpool, Donald. and FX – the perfect fit for the Merc with the Mouth! We’re thrilled that our relationship with FX that started with Legion continues with what is sure to be a groundbreaking show in adult animation.”
This is such a brilliant movie for Fox and Marvel TV. Deadpool is basically a cartoon anyway, and can you even imagine what kind of TV-MA hijinks we’ll get when he’s unburdened by the physical world?
One question that has not been answered is whether or not Ryan Reynolds will lend his distinctive voice to the animated version of Deadpool, or if they’ll give it to someone like Nolan North, who played Mr. Pool in the video game and some animated projects. It’s not as though Reynolds won’t be busy, since Deadpool 2 is currently in production, with Atlanta‘s Zazie Beetz playing Domino and Josh Brolin assaying the coveted role of Cable.
What do you think about a Deadpool animated series? Who should voice Wade Wilson if Reynolds can’t? Let us know in the comments below!
Images: Marvel/Fox/Disney XD
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!
