Deadpool 2: Simon Kinberg says production eyes early 2017 start

Deadpool 2 is a no-brainer: The first film grossed more than $778.6 million worldwide, breaking a number of box office records in the process. Ryan Reynolds will return as the title character with director Tim Miller for the sequel, which producer Simon Kinberg says is looking to kick off production early next year.

“The guys, [original screenwriters Paul] Wernick and Rhett [Reese], are working on the script, and we hope to have the script very soon,” Kinberg told Collider during an interview before the Saturn Awards. Though he couldn’t say much about the timeline for Deadpool 2, he added, “We hope to shoot the movie some time at the beginning of next year.”

Deadpool reintroduced the Merc with a Mouth in a new R-rated setting after his X-Men Origins: Wolverine appearance. Reynolds starred opposite T.J. Miller, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, Gina Carano, and Brianna Hildebrand in the film, which debuted this past February.

Plot details for the next chapter are still under wraps, but the first film’s post-credits scene announced comic book character Cable. Now, actors ranging from Dolph Lundgren to Avatar‘s Stephen Lang are vying for the role on social media.

Deadpool 2 currently doesn’t have an official release date, though Fox staked out a couple release dates for yet-to-be-announced films.