X-Force Trilogy Rumors: A Gritty 90s Vibe and Deadpool Team-Up Details

Jeff Wadlow recently shared his Marvel plans for the X-Force movie that never came to fruition. Even before Marvel Studios regained the rights, 20th Century Fox had multiple X-Men films in the works. One of these projects was X-Force, based on the Marvel Comics team created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld.

During an interview on A Trip to the Movies with Alex Zane, Wadlow discussed the premise of the X-Force movie and the characters that were intended to be featured. He also revealed that the original idea was to have Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool in an antagonist role.

I had the opportunity to write an X-Force script for Fox before the first Deadpool movie was created. Deadpool's appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine was disappointing for me as a comic book fan, so I was determined to do justice to the character. My idea for the movie was to explore the concept of mutants who don't attend a prestigious school like the X-Men, but rather a public school setting. Drawing inspiration from the original X-Men comics from the '90s, I crafted a story centered around young mutants, formerly known as the New Mutants, including characters like Cannonball, Boom-Boom, Domino, Rictor, and Feral. They embarked on a road trip adventure reminiscent of Red Dawn, set in West Texas.

In my script, I wanted to introduce an antagonist who constantly pursued the group. Drawing from Deadpool's origins as a villain in the X-Force comics, I decided to have the main villain hire a mercenary to track down our group of young mutants, with Deadpool taking on the role. I envisioned Deadpool in his iconic motorcycle leathers and red ballistic face mask, resembling his comic book appearance. I specifically wrote the character with Ryan Reynolds in mind and reached out to him with the script. Ryan loved the idea, seeing it as a fun cameo for Deadpool. Although I initially portrayed Deadpool as an antagonist, the story ultimately turned him into an unexpected ally in the end.

Wadlow's X-Force Movie Is Way More Comic Accurate Than The Deadpool 2 Version

Deadpool with parachute as part of X-Force in Deadpool 2 - Wadlow's X-Force Movie Is Way More Comic Accurate Than The Deadpool 2 Version

Wadlow's original idea for the X-Force characters, envisioned as a trilogy, would have closely followed the comic version. The younger members being trained by Cable created a different dynamic compared to the portrayal in Deadpool 2, where Wade was the team leader while acting as a villain in the comics.

Wadlow's vision for X-Force as a 90s-inspired gritty adventure would have aligned well with the original comics. Additionally, X-Force could have provided a different perspective on mutant life by exploring the concept of public school versus private school, with Cable's mentorship contrasting with Professor X's methods at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

Time will determine if the X-Force will be reimagined in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Marvel Studios is rebooting the X-Men. The upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine movie may be the final chance for fans to see this version of the X-Force, which had different members compared to the original team. As of now, the X-Force film will be remembered as one of the superhero projects that never came to fruition.

Editor's P/S:

Jeff Wadlow's unproduced X-Force movie script sounds like a promising and intriguing take on the popular Marvel Comics team. His inspiration from the classic '90s X-Men comics and the idea of a road trip adventure with young mutants brings a fresh and relatable element to the story. Wadlow's choice of Deadpool as the antagonist, later turned ally, aligns well with the character's origins and adds an unexpected twist to the plot.

While it's disappointing that the project never came to fruition, it's fascinating to learn about the creative vision behind it. Wadlow's script would have likely provided a more comic-accurate representation of the X-Force characters compared to the portrayal in Deadpool 2. The exploration of the contrast between public and private school mutant life and Cable's mentorship would have added depth and complexity to the narrative. Ultimately, the X-Force film remains an intriguing glimpse into what could have been a compelling and unique addition to the superhero genre.