Earlier this week, Deadpool 3 director (and newly crowned Ryan Reynolds-whisperer) Shawn Levy bemoaned that his highly anticipated superhero sequel was in danger of losing its release date due to the studios’ refusal to end the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, explaining to The Wrap that only half the movie is done and that the strike has gone on so long that it will be difficult to finish the other half by May 3, 2024 (give or take however many days it takes to actually get the movie to theaters). And now, just a couple of days later, Levy’s dark premonition has come true.
According to Deadline’s sources, Deadpool 3 will indeed by losing its release date, since there is “just too much to do in regards to re-assembling crew, etc.,” even if the strike were to end “in the next few weeks.” We don’t know specifically where it might fall now (perhaps December, taking the old Thunderbolts release date), but once Disney has committed to dropping this release date for this reason, there’s not much of a point in giving Deadpool 3 a new one until you now how the strike is going to shake out.
That being said, Disney isn’t turning its back on May 3 just yet, because Deadline says that Captain America: Brave New World might move up and take Deadpool’s spot since it was “in better shape” when the strikes started and apparently finished production already—which would mean moving from July 26 back to May 3. Deadline’s sources apparently said this would be a “long shot,” but maybe Disney could talk to its buddies in the AMPTP and suggest giving the actors whatever they want (if only so George Clooney doesn’t feel weirdly obligated to do it).