X-Force Movie Gets A Director, Ryan Reynolds Co-Writing

The still-untitled X-Force movie has found its director and a pair of co-writers.

A source close to the film tells ComicBook.com that Joe Carnahan, known best for his work on The Grey, has been tapped to direct the X-Force movie. Carnahan will also write the film, with Deadpool star and executive producer Ryan Reynolds. The source says work has already begun between the two on the film.

Carnahan’s resume extends to The A-Team, The Blacklist, and Smokin’ Aces. He is also in line to direct the upcoming Bad Boys for Life film with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence returning to the franchise after years of Michael Bay running the saga. The Bad Boys sequel was recently pushed back on Sony’s release schedule.

Reynolds is currently working on the sequel to Deadpool which does not yet have a release date, either. He has voiced his desire for the X-Force film to follow Deadpool and Logan‘s lead (both films from 20th Century Fox) and release under an R-rating, allowing more room for coarse language, violence, and nudity. The popular time-traveling character Cable will be appearing in the sequel and likely crossing over into the X-Force movie, as well.

In Marvel Comics, the X-Force is a popular group of mutants which first appeared in New Mutants #100 in April of 1991, conceived by Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld. With Cable as the team’s first leader, the X-Force roster often includes characters such as Boom Boom, Copycat, Warpath, Domino, Wolverine, and Psylocke.

For more details on the X-Force film as they emerge, stay tuned to ComicBook.com.