Deadpool (TV series)

Did You Know?

• 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 move forward.
• Early animation had been completed for the series by August 2017.
• Donald Glover publicly suggested that racism may have contributed to Marvel's decision not to pursue the series.

Production

In May 2017, following the collaboration between Marvel Television and FX Networks on the X-Men series Legion, FXX ordered ten episodes of an untitled adult animated comedy based on Deadpool. Marvel Television executives, who admired FXX’s Archer, had pitched the idea to FX a year after its president John Landgraf outlined plans for FXX to ramp up production of adult animated content. FX then brought in Donald Glover and his brother Stephen to write, executive produce, and run the series. Donald Glover already had a deal with FX Productions, a connection to Marvel from his role in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and the brothers had created Atlanta for FX. After involved negotiations, Marvel Television, FX Productions, and ABC Signature Studios were announced as producers, with Marvel’s Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory also executive producing. The project was named Deadpool: The Animated Series. By the time of the announcement, a writers’ room was already operating in London, where Donald Glover was filming Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Landgraf noted that FX was willing to work around the Glovers’ busy schedules because of their talent and a desire not to limit their opportunities. He also said the series would have a different voice and tone from the Deadpool movies, due to the nature of animation versus live-action and the Glovers’ distinctive style. FX was committed to making the show feel clearly separate from the films.