The first movie hasn’t even come out yet (it’s dropping on Friday) and there’s already a sequel to Fox and Marvel’s Deadpool in the works. Of course, there’s always sequel around these kinds of movies (remember when they were dead-set that the Fant4stic movie would lead to more movies, and an integration into the X-Men universe?), but this seems all but a sure thing. Insiders at Twentieth Century Fox have reportedly told The Hollywood Reporter of the murmurings that a sequel has been greenlit. Nerdist has reached out for comment from Fox but has gotten no reply at time of publication.

Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who wrote the first film and were integral in every step of the uphill battle to get the Merc with the Mouth properly (the operative word) to the screen, will apparently be writing the sequel as well. Ryan Reynolds will undoubtedly be back, as this is his baby too, and though there’s nothing to suggest director Tim Miller will not direct it, it hasn’t been confirmed one way or the other.

There was certainly no guarantee of the success of Deadpool, the hard-R superhero movie based on the popular Marvel character, which is why its production budget is reportedly only in the ballpark of $58 million. However, the media blitz and fourth-wall-breaking TV spots and promos have endeared people to the character and Reynolds’ portrayal enough — not to mention the good-to-great reviews of the film — that it’s on track to make upwards of $65 million during the holiday weekend. Not too shabby for a movie about guy whose face looks like Freddy Kreuger f***ed a topographical map of Utah.

Are you excited for more Deadpool? What about the proposed X-Force movie which would team Deadpool with Cable? What comics stories do you hope they adapt? Let us know in the comments below!

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HT: The Hollywood Reporter
Image: 20th Century Fox

Kyle Anderson is the Weekend Editor and a film and TV critic for Nerdist.com. Follow him on Twitter!