Exclusive: 'Deadpool 2' eyes 'John Wick' director David Leitch to replace Tim Miller
LOS ANGELES -- John Wick director David Leitch is the strong frontrunner to direct Deadpool 2, which lost director Tim Miller over creative differences with Ryan Reynolds, several individuals familiar with the project have told Mashable.
Representatives for 20th Century Fox and Leitch did not immediately respond to after-hours requests for comment.
Deadpool 2 found itself in sudden need of a director earlier this week, when original Deadpool director Miller exited the sequel due to creative differences with star Ryan Reynolds. Insiders say Reynolds was given more creative control on the sequel and that he clashed with Miller over casting, among other issues.
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Reynolds' agency, WME, has been pushing the star (and the studio) to hire one of its own clients, and Leitch is at the top of that list, though one individual told Mashable that several other directors remain in the mix. There doesn't appear to be an official offer on the table yet, but by most accounts, 20th Century Fox has found its man.
Leitch has history with all of the parties involved, including Reynolds, as he was the action coordinator on X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which introduced the actor as Wade Wilson. And John Wick, the Keanu Reeves 2014 cult hit, was extraordinarily popular with the genre crowd that is the foundation of Deadpool's fan base.
Leitch (above, left) has also worked with Fox and Marvel before, performing stunts for Blade, Daredevil and Fight Club, one of several films in which he was Brad Pitt’s stunt double. Perhaps more notably, Leitch has worked on action movies that have pushed the technological envelope, such as 300 and The Matrix sequels.
After a storied run doing stunt work, Leitch moved up to second unit director on The Wolverine and later, Jurassic World and Captain America: Civil War. He made his directorial debut with John Wick and returned as an executive producer on the sequel, which Leitch left in the capable hands of partner Chad Stahelski while he went off to direct The Coldest City starring James McCoy and Charlize Theron.
Leitch is also attached to direct Chris Pratt in Cowboy Ninja Viking and Sony’s adaptation of Valiant’s acclaimed comic book Bloodshot, though neither project is as close to going before cameras as Deadpool 2, which has already been testing female leads.
Leitch is represented by WME, manager Kelly McCormick and attorney Tara Kole of Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown.
