Drew Goddard signed to direct X-FORCE; Deadpool to play a pivotal role.

Deadline exclusively reports that Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods) has officially been signed to write and direct X-FORCE, 20th Century Fox’s next franchise based within the X-Men universe.

The film will be considered more of a Deadpool spin-off, as Ryan Reynolds’ “merc with a mouth” will feature heavily, leading a Black Ops team with Cable (Josh Brolin) and most likely Domino (Zazie Beetz). All three will feature in next year’s DEADPOOL 2, which recently completed production in Vancouver.

Like “Deadpool,” Reynolds has expressed interest in making “X-Force” rated R.

The popular Marvel comic was conceived by writer/illustrator Rob Liefeld. The team, which takes a more militant and aggressive approach towards its enemies, first appeared in New Mutants #100 (April 1991) and soon afterwards was featured in its own series. The group was originally a revamped version of the 1980s team, the New Mutants.

Speaking of NEW MUTANTS, the site also mentions that Josh Boone’s spin-off starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Maisie William has also completed filming in Boston. The film is due in theaters on April 13, 2018. Production was rumored to film scenes in Montreal, where X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX is currently shooting, but there’s no word if that is still happening.

“X-Force” is rumored to reach theaters in 2019, release date TBA.

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