Zombieland Writers To Pen Deadpool, G.I. Joe 2

Seems the writing duo of Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick have made quite the impression on Hollywood with their work on Zombieland as the two have netted themselves a couple of high profile properties.

First up for the team is the big-screen adaptation of the Marvel comics character Deadpool, whose title character saw some screen-time in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The Deadpool spin-off flick, which will star Ryan Reynolds as the masked ‘merc with a mouth’, will apparently go back to square one with the character. Fans tore Wolverine apart for it’s grossly inaccurate portrayal of Deadpool, and both Reynolds and Fox are claiming take 2 to be a respectful of the source material. Though I will forever remain skeptical of any comic book property Fox touches, hiring Reese and Wernick is a step in the right direction – if Zombieland proved anything, it’s that these two are more than able to project humor and intensity, something that this wise-cracking, fourth-wall-breaking superhero needs.

Not much else is known about the Deadpool film; Reynolds is currently at work on Green Lantern for DC/Warner Bros. making a late summer start date the absolute earliest this film could get going (the film is tentatively slated for 2011 release according to IMDB).

The duo can also add real American heroes to their resumes. IESB reports that the two have signed on to write the sequel to G.I. Joe. Nothing at all is known yet about the sequel; the main cast is signed on for a number of films but director Stephen Sommers is not. Yet. While I didn’t hate G.I. Joe as most did, Reese and Wernick seem like kind of an odd pick for this one, solely for the fact that the two have demonstrated smarts. G.I. Joe was not smart. But who knows, maybe this is good and they can bring something different to the concept other than silly set-pieces and goofy dialogue.

Regardless, things are looking up for the Zombielanders, who are attached to Zombieland 2 as well.

Sources: Variety, IESB