Time’s Up: My Major Problem with Deadpool 2

Here we go again.  Another Time’s Up / #MeToo column for another film in which filmmakers left T.J. Miller in the cast.

The major problem that I had with Deadpool 2 goes down to one thing: this film served as the perfect opportunity to recast T.J. Miller’s role of Weasel with the Deadpool brand of humor following allegations of assault and abuse.  Given the news stories that broke in December about allegations of sexual assault at college as well as my own personal experience, why didn’t the filmmakers follow Ridley Scott’s lead with recasting the role?!?

They had plenty of time to do so.  Whether or not the film was moved up is beyond the point.  As one can see in the final cut, Miller’s screen time amounts to maybe a good ten minutes or so.

During the Winter TCA tour, Fred Topel had the spoke with Deadpool 2 producer Lauren Schuler Donner about the chances of recasting.

“We’re in the final editing,” she said. “I don’t think so.”

It’s unfortunate.  Ultimately, the lack of recasting is what ruined my experience in watching the film.  The release of the film comes just over a month after Ready Player One was released in theaters.  I had the same experience with that film that I had with this one.  Both screenings took a toll on my emotional and mental health.  One would have thought I would not have made the same mistake again.  But I did.

Not seeing the film would lead to TJ winning.  Seeing the film, as it turns out, also led to TJ winning because of the subsequent depression.  I’m a Marvel completest just as I am with Steven Spielberg’s filmography.  For the last several months, I was of the option that I would not see the film for the sake of my health.  My decision to see the film came within moments of the screening invite.

While the film is and remains a fun viewing–and oh, those post-credits are so fun–it’s ultimately the few minutes of screen time in which I had to focus my attention elsewhere.  This isn’t an easy thing to do during the close-ups of his face.

Little did I know just how awful of a decision that I made in that regard.  Fool me once, shame on me.  Fool me twice, I won’t get fooled again.  Rest assured that I will not be seeing any films with Miller going forward.  If it weren’t for Spielberg or Marvel, I would not have seen either film.