Deadpool 2: everything you need to know

From Digital Spy

Even as recently as 2015, the idea that Deadpool 2 would be one of the most hotly-anticipated in the mighty raft of upcoming superhero movies was unlikely to say the least.

But here we are. After the phenomenal success of the Ryan Reynolds-starring Fox film, which became the most successful instalment in the X-Men franchise on a modest $58 million budget, the world is ready for more R-rated, hyperactive action comedy, Marvel-style.

Here's your one-stop shop for all the Deadpool sequel's news, castings, spoilers, rumours and more.

Deadpool 2 trailer: Meet Cable

The first full trailer for the film introduced us to Josh Brolin's Cable (more on him later) and gave us our first hint that it might serve as the introduction of the X-Force team ahead of their spin-off movie.

It was, however, light on plot details, which they held back for trailer number two.

Deadpool and Cable will apparently start off not as the odd couple we know from the comics, but as adversaries fighting over the life of a young mutant.

We get our first introduction to another classic X-Men character, Domino, who if rumours are to be believed might be one of the best things about the new movie.

Deadpool 2 release date: Fast tracked

Especially considering that the first film was in the works for over a decade, its follow-up is moving very quickly, which we're hoping won't effect the movie's quality. With writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick coming back (with some help from Cloverfield, Daredevil and The Martian's Drew Goddard), we should be in good hands.

Although director Tim Miller was unofficially on board when the Deadpool sequel was announced, he dropped out after differing with Reynolds on the direction of the film. John Wick co-director David Leitch stepped up to work on Deadpool 2 instead.

Related: Deadpool could set the tone for all future X-Men films

The film began shooting in June 2017. Fox's X-Men franchise leader Simon Kinberg said that Deadpool 2 should be out next year. It's release was initially set for June 1, 2018, but was moved up to May 18, 2018, coinciding with a (long, long) delay for fellow X-Men spin-off The New Mutants.

It's now got a working title too – 'Love Machine' which is presumably a reference to semi-mecha Cable.

And beyond Deadpool 2, Wade Wilson will be showing up in the team movie, X-Force.

Deadpool 2 cast: New mutants for old

We're still in the early days of Deadpool 2 announcements. Ryan Reynolds is confirmed to be returning as Deadpool/Wade Wilson – the first movie was very much his baby, and it's inconceivable that Fox would move ahead without him.

Morena Baccarin has is back Wade's partner Vanessa Carlysle, with TJ Miller also returning as sidekick Weasel.

Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and taxi driver Dopinder (Karan Soni) are all back, as is Deadpool's flatmate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams).

Hildebrand teased that her character has "grown and matured" but still has the "essence of a punk kid".

Deadpool's after-credits scene revealed that the filmmakers fully intended to introduce Cable into the sequel, jokingly throwing around names like Mel Gibson, Dolph Lundgren and Keira Knightley ("she's got range – who knows?"). We were totally on board with that last rumour in particular.

Kyle Chandler, Pierce Brosnan, Stranger Things' David Harbour and Michael Shannon were all rumoured to play Cable. Brad Pitt seriously considered the role, but his schedule wouldn't allow it, and it was even on Russell Crowe's radar.

All that's just context now, though, because we have confirmation: Avengers: Infinity War star Josh Brolin has landed the coveted role of Cable. He got totally jacked for the part, and don't worry, Marvel is totally cool with it.

Domino – another mercenary mutant type with a long association with both Deadpool and Cable – will also make her on-screen debut in the movie, played by Atlanta and Easy star Zazie Beetz.

The Strain's Jack Kesy has joined as the movie's villain – rumoured to be the mutant Black Tom Cassidy, cousin of the X-Men member Banshee.