Our excitement for Deadpool 2 was dampened when reports came out that problematic comedian T.J. Miller would be reprising his role as snarky sidekick Weasel. In a new profile with the New York Times, Ryan Reynolds has confirmed that Miller will no longer be appearing in X-Force or any upcoming Deadpool sequels.
Miller has been accused of sexually assaulting and punching a woman while in college at George Washington University. Miller has also reportedly harassed women online, including trans film critic Danielle Solzman.
Miller was one of many prominent male actors called out during the #MeToo movement who seemed not to face any repercussions for his alleged behavior…unless you consider starring in The Emoji Movie punishment. 20th Century Fox has stuck by him, despite fans clamoring to have Miller replaced in Deadpool 2, much like Kevin Spacey was replaced by Christopher Plummer in last year’s All the Money in the World. Plummer’s performance was shot and digitally edited into the film just six weeks before its scheduled release date, and he garnered an Oscar nomination for his performance.
In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, producer Lauren Shuler Donner was asked about possibly removing Miller from Deadpool 2 and said “We’re in the final editing, I don’t think so.” When pressed about Miller’s future in the Deadpool franchise, Donner said, “that’s a whole studio thing, I don’t know.”
Since then, Miller has been arrested for harassing a woman on an Amtrak train and allegedly calling in a fake bomb threat. He was released on a $100,000 bond and faces charges which carry a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. Miller, who formerly starred in the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley, left the series after season four, citing creative differences with showrunners Mike Judge and Alec Berg. “It just wasn’t working,” said Judge in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter.
Miller most recently appeared in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One and is still set to reprise his role in How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Deadpool 2 hits theaters May 18th.
(via The New York Times, image: 20th Century Fox)
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