While promoting the DVD/Blu-ray release of X-Men: First Class, producer Lauren Shuler Donner sat down with various outlets to discuss the next big Marvel projects to come out of Fox: The Wolverine and Deadpool movies.
Hitfix inquired about the status of The Wolverine, specifically when production was expected to get started. Given how the project has suffered numerous pre-production setbacks—losing Darren Aronofsky as director, the Japan earthquake disaster and inability to find suitable locations—Fox has consistently had to push the project back to re-circle their wagons.
During this time, star Hugh Jackman has been courted to play the lead in Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables, a casting that Donner says will affect the shooting schedule for The Wolverine. Speaking candidly she said, “I'm not sure when we'll start… Maybe summer 2012... It's based on Hugh's schedule, frankly. When he's available, we'll film.” Given the financial success but poor critical/public reception to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Donner wanted to stress to fans that The Wolverine is a “standalone” project from its predecessor.
Speaking of “Origins: Wolverine,” Donner also addressed the (also troubled) Deadpool spinoff, and whether or not any traction had been gained in getting the film closer to shooting. Speaking to Total Film, Donner said “we have a few more things to do. And then it's up to the studio to decide whether we're going to go forward or not.”
Continuing on with Hitfix, Donner stated: “We're working on getting it ready, and presenting some things to the studio, cause we're gonna give it a little bit of a different look… It's a different kind of movie… it's true to 'Deadpool'. So you know it'll be violent, and outrageous, and funny.” Time will be the judge of that, but Donner also made it clear that the film will (likely) not move forward without Ryan Reynolds who originated the role in “Origins: Wolverine” and is set to star.