The team behind Zombieland: Double Tap almost had Ryan Reynolds appear in their horror-comedy. Screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick famously brought the Reynolds-inhabited comic book character, Deadpool, to the silver screen. The “merc with a mouth” has become one of the most beloved and unique things to happen in the genre for some time. With their breaking of the fourth wall, over-the-top violence, and Reynolds-esque hilarity (making him almost indistinguishable from the character), Deadpool and Deadpool 2 became the highest box office earning pair of R-rated films (that is, until Joker's took the top spot for R-rated movies).
The balancing of violence and humor is second nature for writers Reese and Wernick. When Zombieland came out in 2009 it was a critical and commercial success, largely due to its perfect blend of action and comedy. It became one of the highest-grossing zombie films in the U.S. (only later beaten by World War Z in 2013). Benefiting from the chemistry of its stellar cast, including the likes of Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, and a show-stopping cameo by Bill Murray, Zombieland was the perfect warm-up for Reese and Wernick. It did not adhere to any genre standards. After the success of that film, the profiles of the actors involved grew exponentially (now all being either Oscar nominees or winners). As they moved on to bigger roles, Reese and Wernick teamed up with Reynolds to make Deadpool.
The fearlessness of Zombieland is seen in Deadpool and Deadpool 2, stemming directly from Reese, Wernick, and Reynolds. According to Deadline, Reese and Wernick wanted to include Reynolds in Zombieland: Double Tap. Originally, they wanted to have Reynolds to portray the role that eventually went Luke Wilson - Albuquerque, the bizarro-version of Tallahassee. The two writers tried their best to get Reynolds on board but ran into problems due to the actor’s conflicting schedule (fatherhood included). “We made it a goal to do only Ryan Reynolds movies,” joked Wernick. “But this one slipped through our fingers. Luke was amazing and it worked out terrific for us.”
The reunion at the heart of Zombieland: Double Tap is a feat to behold. The original movie defied genre expectations thanks to the charisma of its cast and writing team. “When you’re in a genre, you keep staring at everyone around you and try to find the thing that will set you apart,” Reese said. “So we have those moments but what we found is that the thing that sets Zombieland apart is the people. It’s the people and the characters. It’s the hang-out factor."
Zombieland changed the landscape of the zombie genre; it opened the door for many of the zombie pieces that followed, not the least of which includes AMC’s The Walking Dead (which gets mocked in Zombieland 2 for being too unrealistic). Zombieland's place in pop culture and the continued success of its creators ensured it would be cemented as a franchise. Zombieland: Double Tap made $39 million in its opening night and as long as it continues holding monetary traction, a Zombieland 3 is surely warranted (with all actors on board). And while Reynolds may not have been able to join the gang for Zombieland: Double Tap, there's every possibility his schedule will clear in time for him make an appearance in a sequel.
Source: Deadline
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