We’ve learned a lot more about the upcoming PG-13 version of Deadpool 2. Deadline reports that the movie is titled Once Upon a Deadpool, and it’ll release through a “limited-engagement” in the United States on December 12. It’ll only play in theaters until Christmas Eve (December 24).
As for what’s different in the new cut, Deadline reports that the “lion’s share” of the new edition is the same footage from the original Deadpool 2, but with its violence and language toned down. A new multi-scene “framing sequence,” dreamed up by Ryan Reynolds and writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, was also shot for the new PG-13 edit. There are eight new scenes in all, and they were reportedly shot in a single day.
Another element of Once Upon a Deadpool is that it’s going to be a vehicle to help drive awareness and raise money for cancer research. $1 from every ticket sold will go to the F**k Cancer campaign, but it’ll be called “Fudge Cancer” at ticket sales locations.
Regarding the new framing sequence, it will involve the actor Fred Savage, who starred as the little boy in the beloved cult classic The Princess Bride. In Once Upon a Deadpool, the merc will apparently kidnap Savage and featuring the same bedtime-story setup as The Princess Bride. Now that Savage is a grown man, this is set up to be very comical.
“Fox has been asking for a PG-13 basically since the start in 2006,” Reynolds told Deadline. “I’ve said no since 2006. Now, this one time, I said ‘Yes’ on two conditions. First, a portion of the proceeds had to go to charity. Second, I wanted to kidnap Fred Savage. The second condition took some explaining…”
Savage told Deadline: “While my participation in this film was anything but voluntary. I am happy to learn that Fudge Cancer will be the beneficiary of this shameless cash grab.”
Deadpool 2 opened in May this year, and it made $734 million during its theatrical run. The 2016 original was a bigger hit, bringing in more than $780 million at the box office. Those are massive figures, all but ensuring there will be a third Deadpool movie sometime down the road.
