Deadpool 3 will be R-rated and fit within the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Fans worried about Deadpool 3 being a watered-down PG-13 version of the first two R-rated predecessors are breathing a sigh of relief on Monday, thanks to an update by Marvel Studios  president Kevin Feige.

The 47-year-old Feige was promoting the new Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series WandaVision, debuting on Disney Plus on Friday, when he was asked by Collider about Deadpool 3 starring Ryan Reynolds.

It was announced in November that writers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin have been tapped to work on the script, with Feige confirming it will in fact be an R-rated movie set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe… though filming won’t start until at least 2022.

No worries: Fans worried about Deadpool 3 being a watered-down PG-13 version of the first two R-rated predecessors are breathing a sigh of relief on Monday, thanks to an update by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige

Update: The 47-year-old Feige was promoting the new Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series WandaVision, debuting on Disney Plus on Friday, when he was asked by Collider about Deadpool 3 starring Ryan Reynolds

Update: The 47-year-old Feige was promoting the new Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series WandaVision, debuting on Disney Plus on Friday, when he was asked by Collider about Deadpool 3 starring Ryan Reynolds

‘It will be rated R and we are working on a script right now, and Ryan’s overseeing a script right now… It will not be [filming] this year,’ Feige confirmed. 

‘Ryan is a very busy, very successful actor. We’ve got a number of things we’ve already announced that we now have to make, but it’s exciting for it to have begun,’ Feige added. 

‘Again, a very different type of character in the MCU, and Ryan is a force of nature, which is just awesome to see him bring that character to life,’ Feige concluded.

Rated R: 'It will be rated R and we are working on a script right now, and Ryan’s overseeing a script right now… It will not be [filming] this year,' Feige confirmed

Rated R: ‘It will be rated R and we are working on a script right now, and Ryan’s overseeing a script right now… It will not be [filming] this year,’ Feige confirmed

Reynolds’ first Deadpool movie in 2016 was a surprise R-rated hit, earning $782.6 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.

The 2018 sequel Deadpool 2 took in just over $785 million worldwide to set a new record, which stood for another year until Joker earned $1.074 billion worldwide.

Fans became worried about the sequel’s potential when the franchise distributor, 20th Century Fox, was acquired by Disney, a studio that rarely releases R-rated fare.

Big hit: Reynolds' first Deadpool movie in 2016 was a surprise R-rated hit, earning $782.6 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time

Big hit: Reynolds’ first Deadpool movie in 2016 was a surprise R-rated hit, earning $782.6 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time

Sequel: The 2018 sequel Deadpool 2 took in just over $785 million worldwide to set a new record, which stood for another year until Joker earned $1.074 billion worldwide

Sequel: The 2018 sequel Deadpool 2 took in just over $785 million worldwide to set a new record, which stood for another year until Joker earned $1.074 billion worldwide

There was speculation that the franchise would be shunted to Disney-owned Hulu, though that was never confirmed, and now it seems the studio is committing to an R-rated release, which is significant in and of itself.

Reynolds himself also reacted to the news in his typical quick-witted fashion, with a humorous tweet on Monday afternoon.

He shared a headline from IGN reporting on the news, joking, ‘Full disclosure: I showed them Spiderman 1 & 2 and told them it was Deadpool 1 & 2. #Deadpool3.’

Quick-witted: Reynolds himself also reacted to the news in his typical quick-witted fashion, with a humorous tweet on Monday afternoon

Quick-witted: Reynolds himself also reacted to the news in his typical quick-witted fashion, with a humorous tweet on Monday afternoon

Reynolds has three films slated for release this year – Free Guy (May 21), The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (August 20) and Netflix’s Red Notice.

He is currently filming The Adam Project for Free Guy director Shawn Levy, starring alongside Zoe Saldana, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner.

Reynolds is also attached to star in produce a new adaptation of the board game Clue, which may also be an R-rated project as well.

Staying busy: Reynolds has three films slated for release this year - Free Guy (May 21), The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (August 20) and Netflix's Red Notice

Staying busy: Reynolds has three films slated for release this year – Free Guy (May 21), The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (August 20) and Netflix’s Red Notice