Fox is having a great weekend so far as they continue to reap the praise of the NEW MUTANTS teaser, which teased a bunch of creepy kids and an exciting new entry in the X-MEN universe. On top of that, two of their most anticipated films – DEADPOOL 2 and X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX – have officially wrapped filming. It's a great time to be a mutant or genetically engineered human! Unless you're a child, then it may seem very horrific.
On the DEADPOOL front writer Rhett Reese was the first person to confirm the movie had concluded filming, but then Ryan Reynolds took the stage and also said the movie was done shooting – but in a much more entertaining way. And with pretty pictures.
As for DARK PHOENIX, director Simon Kinberg took to Instagram to announce filming had wrapped with a very unrevealing photo, further proving we may not see anything remotely spoiler-ish until – I don’t know – the movie comes out.
Both of these movies have a lot of pressure to deliver, but for very different reasons. DEADPOOL was a delightfully profane and an unexpected smash hit and even got some major awards recognition. The sequel doesn’t necessarily have to be miles better, but it at least has to prove the first wasn’t a fluke, and that the intent for the series isn’t to simply increase the amount of gore the sexual puns, though those are nice things.
When it comes to PHOENIX it’s more about redemption. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS and X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST where two of the best in the X-MEN series, while the recent APOCALYPSE was among the worst. Like, much much worse than those first two. This new one really has to make up for in order to prove APOCALYPSE was simply a hitch in the step and not proof this series has run its course. On top of that, this may be the final outing for James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence as Charles Xavier, Magneto and Mystique, so it has to be a worthy outing. Not to mention the story will tackle a beloved story arc in the X-Men universe, which was already handled with zero care in X-MEN: THE LAST STAND. No pressure for Kinberg, who is stepping into the director’s chair for the first time. Fingers crossed both of these movies are at least good. Fingers crossed very, very tightly.
DEADPOOL 2 arrives June 1, 2018, and X- MEN: DARK PHOENIX arrives November 2, 2018.