FXX announces 'Deadpool' animated TV series
Cable station FXX announced on Wednesday it had ordered an animated series starring hit Marvel anti-hero Deadpool, with Golden Globe-winning actor Donald Glover leading the creative team.
The show will capitalize on 20th Century Fox's "Deadpool" movie, which made $780 million -- 13 times its budget -- last year, with Ryan Reynolds as the wisecracking mercenary nicknamed "The Merc with the Mouth."
Scheduled to debut in 2018, the as-yet untitled series -- which is being provisionally called "Marvel's Deadpool" -- will be produced by Marvel Television with FX Productions and ABC Signature Studios.
"How much more fun could this be? Deadpool, Donald and FX -- the perfect fit for the Merc with the Mouth," said Marvel Television chief Jeph Loeb.
"We're thrilled that our relationship with FX that started with 'Legion' continues with what is sure to be a groundbreaking show in adult animation."
It was not clear whether Reynolds will be involved in the 10-episode series, with none of the voice actors yet announced.
FXX, a cable entertainment channel owned by Fox's FX Networks, is carried in 85 million homes.
Glover and his brother Stephen, the award-winning creators of "Atlanta," the highest-rated comedy in the history of FX Networks, will be the showrunners, executive producers and main writers.
The multi-talented Glover -- who is also a Grammy-nominated musician, performing under the stage name Childish Gambino -- won two Golden Globes for acting and producing the show.
Already a mainstay in the Marvel family, he can next be seen in "Spider-Man: Homecoming," and then as Lando Calrissian in a "Star Wars" spin-off due for release in 12 months before appearing in "The Lion King" in July 2019.
"Donald Glover is an incredibly gifted and versatile artist who'll bring the untitled Marvel's Deadpool series to life with the same intense, singular vision as his breakout hit 'Atlanta,'" said Nick Grad, president of original programming at FX.
"With the success of 'Legion,' we?re looking forward to again partnering with Marvel Television to create a series that is bold, striking and entirely original."
Marvel Television's portfolio includes ABC's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and, for Netflix, "Daredevil," "Luke Cage," "Jessica Jones," and "Iron Fist."
It also makes "Avengers" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" for Disney XD as well as co-producing on "Legion" for FX.
The company has six new series in the pipeline for Netflix, ABC, Freeform and Hulu.