Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy has cast doubt over the movie's planned release date of May 3, 2024, admitting that it's "in true risk" amid the ongoing actors' strike.
In a recent interview with TheWrap, Levy confirmed he has shot and edited half the movie, but its release date could be in jeopardy if production doesn't resume soon. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman's long-awaited team-up was suspended in July, less than two months after cameras started rolling on the threequel.
"I don't even know if we officially have [a release date]. I know we were gonna be May 3," Levy said. "Certainly, the actors' strike and the long pause in production have put that release date in true risk. We've shot half the movie. I've edited half the movie. We're dying to get back to work and get this movie out next year."
Production on Deadpool 3 halted on July 14 when the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) opted to take strike action, joining the Writers Guild of America (WAG), who walked out on May 2, in demanding fair compensation and new business models, among other proposals.
The WGA announced the end of its historic five-month strike on September 27 after the union made a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Striking actors have yet to reach an agreement through negotiations, and Hollywood studios recently walked away from the bargaining table.
With no end in sight for the SAG-AFTRA strike, Levy seems to have lost confidence in the date that Deadpool 3 will hit theaters. However, he is positive Reynolds' Merc with a Mouth will be having a "raw, audacious, very much R-rated" outing with Jackman's Wolverine, judging by everything he has shot up until now.
The first photo from the set showed the two actors side-by-side in their superhero outfits, with Jackman sporting Wolverine's fan-favourite yellow and blue suit made famous by the X-Men comics. It's the first time Jackman has worn his character's classic costume, making it quite the talking point for fans in recent months.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X @AdeleAnkers.
