| Deadpool: The Animated Series | |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
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| Network | FXX |
Deadpool: The Animated Series is an unproduced American adult animated cable television series developed for FXX by Donald and Stephen Glover, based on the Marvel Comics character Deadpool. The series was being produced by Marvel Television in association with FX Productions and ABC Signature Studios, with Donald and Stephen Glover serving as showrunners.
Ordered straight-to-series by FXX in May 2017 following the successful partnership of Marvel Television and FX Productions in making the X-Men spin-off series Legion , 10 episodes were planned for the series to debut in 2018. Donald and Stephen Glover had begun work in a writers room by the time of the series' announcement. Early animation had been completed for the series that August, with the Glovers wanting a distinct voice and tone from previous incarnations of the character including the Deadpool films.
The announcement of the series, and the involvement of Donald Glover specifically, was met with enthusiasm from commentators. However, in March 2018, FX Networks announced that it was no longer moving forward with the series after Marvel decided not to pursue the version of the series that the Glovers were creating. This was widely seen as disappointing and was met with criticism, including from Donald Glover himself who publicly suggested that racism may have contributed to Marvel's decision.
After the success of Marvel Television and FX Networks' partnership to create the series Legion for FX, its sister channel FXX gave a 10-episode series order in May 2017 to an untitled adult animated comedy series based on the popular Marvel Comics character Deadpool. [1] Marvel Television executives were fans of FXX's animated series Archer , and had approached FX about the idea a year after its president John Landgraf had detailed plans to have FXX "aggressively" make more adult animated series. [2] [3]
FX approached Donald Glover, "a significant talent with increasing geek cred", and his brother Stephen to write, executive produce, and showrun the series. [1] [2] Donald Glover had an overall deal with FX Productions, [2] a pre-established relationship with Marvel after starring in Spider-Man: Homecoming , [3] and the brothers created the "breakout hit" Atlanta for FX. [1] [2] After "complex" negotiations, the series was announced as being produced by Marvel Television, FX Productions, and ABC Signature Studios, with Marvel's Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory also serving as executive producers. [2] The series was to be titled Deadpool: The Animated Series. [4]
By the series' announcement, a writers room for the show had been established in London where Donald Glover was filming Solo: A Star Wars Story . [2] Landgraf explained that FX was happy to accommodate the Glovers' busy schedule because of their talent and not wanting to "squelch" any opportunities that may come up for them. He added that the series would be different in voice and tone from the Deadpool films because of the difference between animation and live-action, and also because of the Glovers' own unique voice and tone. Making a series "that was distinctly different from the movies" was something that FX felt strongly about when taking on the project. [5]
With the announcement of the series and the involvement of Donald Glover, several outlets noted that his Atlanta co-star Zazie Beetz had just been cast as the comic character Domino in the film Deadpool 2 . [2] [3] In May 2017, Beetz expressed interest in reprising her role in the series if the character was included. [6] A brief clip from the series was available to be shown at FX's Television Critics Association press tour panel in August, and Landgraf stated that animation would begin in full for the show later in the year, simultaneously with the filming of the second season of Atlanta. He added that a specific release schedule had not been decided on yet "because it’s gotta be great" first. [5]
Discussing pressure to live up to previous portrayals of Deadpool, Donald Glover said he did not feel any unlike in his work on Solo and Atlanta, especially because Deadpool "is very aware of himself". [7] Stefani Robinson, a member of the series' writers room, said that they chose to interpret the original comics from "an angle that was very true to us and made sense to us", rather than look to the films or general public's perception of the character. She highlighted the fact that Deadpool cannot die, saying: "It's sort of fun to play with a character who can do anything, basically, and really get into the mentality of someone who is bored with life, who doesn't feel any stakes, doesn't feel any danger, and is like, 'OK – This is just kind of my life, and what do I do with being someone who exists on a superior platform than everybody else?' What would you do if you lived forever, couldn't die?" [8]
In March 2018, FX announced that it had decided not to move forward with the series, citing creative differences. Their statement added that the network, the Glovers, and Marvel Television agreed to "part ways". FX did clarify that their relationship with Marvel Television would continue with Legion. [9] Donald Glover denied rumors that he was too busy to work on the series, and within a week of this announcement he wrote and released a 15-page script on his Twitter account titled "Finale". The script features Deadpool travelling to Kenya to protect the rhinoceros Sudan (who died several days earlier), and contemplating why the series was cancelled. The script was soon removed from Glover's account. [4]
In "Finale", Deadpool finds potential blame for the cancellation in comments written for the series about Marvel "trying to sell toys to 7-year-old boys and 50-year-old pedophiles"; notes the socio-political issues of depicting a "violent, gun-loving white man ranting on TV"; and suggests that Marvel and FX may have been racist in not wanting to make the series due to its all black writing staff and the black references they had been using in scripts. The latter point echoed earlier comments made by Glover that he needed a "white translator" to trick FX into allowing him and his black writing staff to make Atlanta the way they wanted to. [4] Deadpool goes on to state in the script:
"It just feels like everyone wants something different, but no one wants to do anything different to get it. Doesn't Marvel have enough feel-good minority shows everyone supports but doesn't watch? I mean, I think our show woulda[ sic ] been funny. I just wanted a place to be honest. And I guess that place is Freeform". [4]
The script also mentioned an episode featuring Taylor Swift, which Stephen Glover confirmed, calling it "hilarious" and "the last straw" for Marvel. He added that the series "wasn't too black. It wasn't really that black at all. But we definitely wanted to give Rick and Morty a run for their money and I think we would have". [10] In August, Landgraf was asked why FX had made the "shocking" decision to not move forward with the series, and he stated that Marvel had full control over the use of the character and decided not to pursue the version of the series that the Glovers wanted to make. Landgraf added that he had personally liked the work that the Glovers had done on the series, [11] and that FX would have continued with that version if it was their decision. He believed that Marvel would eventually revive the series, but would "hire someone else to do a different show". [12] Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld stated in May 2019 that a new animated series featuring the character was coming "sooner than later". [13]
 | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2018) |
Ryan Reynolds, producer and star of the Deadpool films, was not involved with the series' development but described Donald Glover as a "genius" and lamented the news that the series would not be moving forward. [14]
Deadpool is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in New Mutants #98. In his comic book appearances, Deadpool is initially depicted as a supervillain of the New Mutants and X-Force, though later stories would portray him as an antihero. Deadpool is the alter ego of Wade Wilson, a disfigured Canadian mercenary with superhuman regenerative healing abilities. He is known for his tendency to joke incessantly and break the fourth wall for humorous effect.
FX Networks, LLC, is a company consisting of a network of cable channels plus a production company and a subsidiary of the Disney Entertainment business division of The Walt Disney Company. Originally a part of 21st Century Fox, the company was acquired by The Walt Disney Company on March 20, 2019. Consequently, FX Networks was integrated into the newly renamed Walt Disney Television unit.
Donald McKinley Glover Jr., also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, is an American actor, comedian, singer, rapper, writer, director, and producer. While he studied at New York University and after working in Derrick Comedy, a comedy group, Glover was hired by Tina Fey to write for the NBC sitcom 30 Rock; he was 23. He gained fame for portraying college student Troy Barnes on the NBC sitcom Community from 2009 to 2014. From 2016 to 2022, he starred in the FX series Atlanta, which he created and occasionally directed. For his work on Atlanta, he won various accolades including two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.
X-Men is an American superhero film series based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. 20th Century Fox obtained the film rights to the team and other related characters in 1994 for $2.6 million. After numerous drafts, Bryan Singer was hired to direct the first film, released in 2000, and its sequel, X2 (2003), while the third installment of the original trilogy, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), was directed by Brett Ratner.
Archer is an American adult animated sitcom created by Adam Reed for FX that aired from September 17, 2009, to December 17, 2023. The show follows the exploits of bumbling secret agent Sterling Archer and his dysfunctional colleagues. The show is set in an anachronistic Cold War–esque universe and caricatures espionage, Western culture and society, and the human condition. Archer is distinguished by artistic reinvention in contemporary episodes, foregoing the standard setup of a workplace sitcom for self-contained anthologies. It returned to its spy parody roots after the tenth season.
Marvel Television was an American television production company responsible for live-action and animated television shows and direct-to-DVD series based on characters from Marvel Comics. The division was based at affiliate ABC Studios' location. Marvel Television also collaborated with 20th Century Fox in producing shows based on the X-Men franchise such as Legion and The Gifted. The division was transferred to Marvel Studios from Marvel Entertainment in October 2019 and was folded into the former two months later. Marvel Television is currently used as a label.
Floyd County Productions is an American animation studio located in Atlanta, Georgia. It produces the animated TV shows Archer, Unsupervised, Chozen, and Dicktown for FX, in addition to providing animation for various live-action shows.
Deadpool is a 2016 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Distributed by 20th Century Fox, it is a spin-off of the X-Men film series and its eighth installment overall. Directed by Tim Miller and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, it stars Ryan Reynolds in the title role alongside Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T. J. Miller, Gina Carano, and Brianna Hildebrand. In the film, Wade Wilson hunts the man who gave him mutant abilities and a scarred physical appearance, becoming the antihero Deadpool.
Deadpool 2 is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Deadpool. Distributed by 20th Century Fox, it is the sequel to Deadpool (2016) and the eleventh installment in the X-Men film series. The film was directed by David Leitch and written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Ryan Reynolds, who stars in the title role alongside Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, T. J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, and Jack Kesy. In the film, Deadpool forms the X-Force to protect a young mutant from the time-traveling soldier Cable.
Atlanta is an American comedy-drama television series created by Donald Glover. The series follows college dropout and music manager Earnest "Earn" Marks (Glover) and rapper Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles as they navigate a strange, seemingly otherworldly Atlanta hip hop scene. Atlanta also stars LaKeith Stanfield as Darius, Earn and Alfred's eccentric friend, and Zazie Beetz as Vanessa "Van" Kiefer, Earn's on-again-off-again girlfriend and the mother of his daughter.
Zazie Olivia Beetz is a German-American actress. She is best known for her role in the FX comedy-drama series Atlanta (2016–2022), for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She starred in the Netflix anthology series Easy (2016–2019) and currently voices Amber Bennett in the adult animated superhero series Invincible (2021–present).
Deadpool & Wolverine is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics characters Deadpool and Wolverine, produced by Marvel Studios, Maximum Effort, and 21 Laps Entertainment, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is intended to be the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and a sequel to Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018). The film is directed by Shawn Levy from a screenplay he wrote with Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells. Reynolds and Hugh Jackman star as Deadpool and Wolverine, respectively, alongside Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen. In the film, the Time Variance Authority (TVA) pull Deadpool from his quiet life and set him on a mission that will change the history of the MCU with Wolverine.
"The Big Bang" is the pilot episode of American comedy-drama television series Atlanta. It originally aired on FX on September 6, 2016, back-to-back with the second episode "Streets on Lock". The pilot episode focuses on Earn Marks trying to convince his rapper cousin Alfred to let him be his manager. The episode was written by series creator Donald Glover and directed by Hiro Murai. On September 7, 2016, FX released the first two episodes of Atlanta on YouTube for free.
The first season of the American television series Atlanta premiered on September 6, 2016. The season is produced by RBA, 343 Incorporated, MGMT. Entertainment, and FXP, with Donald Glover, Paul Simms, and Dianne McGunigle, serving as executive producers. Glover serves as creator and wrote four episodes for the season.
Wade Winston Wilson, also known as Deadpool, is a fictional character portrayed by Ryan Reynolds in 20th Century Fox's X-Men film series and later the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise produced by Marvel Studios. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, he was heavily adapted for his first appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) by writers Skip Woods and David Benioff. In the film, he is depicted as a mercenary who initially joins Col. William Stryker's mutant ops group "Team X". Upon leaving the group over disagreeing with Stryker's moral stance against mutants, he is captured and transformed into a genetically altered mutant killer known as Weapon XI, who proceeds to fight and be killed by former teammate James Howlett / Wolverine.
The third season of the American television series Atlanta premiered on March 24, 2022, on FX. The season is produced by Gilga, 343 Incorporated, MGMT. Entertainment, and FXP, with Donald Glover, Paul Simms, Dianne McGunigle, Stephen Glover, Hiro Murai, and Stefani Robinson serving as executive producers. Donald Glover serves as creator and showrunner, writing two episodes and directing three episodes of the season.
The fourth and final season of the American television series Atlanta premiered on FX on September 15, 2022. The season is produced by Gilga, 343 Incorporated, MGMT. Entertainment, and FXP, with Donald Glover, Paul Simms, Dianne McGunigle, Stephen Glover, Hiro Murai, and Stefani Robinson serving as executive producers. Donald Glover serves as creator and showrunner.
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