DEADPOOL Writers Talk Sequel and Claim Vladimir Putin Leaked the Test Footage

While there's a very high probability that four people collectively decided to leak the Deadpool test footage, there's also a small chance Russian President Vladimir Putin was involved! Deadline spoke to the writers about the film's award chances, the sequel, and of course, the infamous leak that got it all rolling. We've all heard the story of "the leak" that finally got footage of Deadpool in front of the public, but writer Paul Wernick thinks he's narrowed down who did it...

"We’ve always wondered who leaked that test footage. There’s really been only four suspects—it’s been myself, Rhett, Ryan [Reynolds], and [director] Tim [Miller], but a new suspect has emerged, and we’re gonna give you the scoop on this. It’s Putin, actually; Vladimir Putin leaked the test footage for Deadpool."

I wouldn't peg Putin as a big Deadpool fan, but then again I'm not sure many people expected the film to be the $735 million dollar success that it was, and yet the writers laugh that a film so successful is viewed an "underdog" in the award season for films...

"How rare is it that a movie that made $783 million is kind of the underdog of the award season? [Laughs] It’s rare that a movie like this, that’s generally considered a popcorn type movie, gets recognized among such serious, great fare. So, it’s both surprising and exciting, and unexpected, and yet, so gratifying"

As far as the update on the sequel, things are looking very positive! The team is still planning on including Cable and shooting sometime this year...

"It’ll be populated with a lot of characters, but it is still Deadpool’s movie, this next one. We’re pushing forward very hard. I think by every account we will shoot it this year, and we’re on our multiple draft now. It’s taken different twists and turns, but it’s really coalescing, and we’re very, very excited. We’re a little nervous, because now we feel like we have to live up to the first movie, but at the same time, we have to have faith, and we have an extreme passion still, and as long as we have passion still, and it’s not a mercenary, venal play, which we don’t think this is, I think we’ll be in good shape."

The only bad news? There's no plan to bring Deadpool into the current fold of X-Men films just yet as far as the writing team knows, but don't rule it out!