When Tim Miller jumped in to direct 2016’s Deadpool, he wasn’t in it for the money, and that’s a good thing, too, considering how much money he made.
In a recent interview with Collider, Miller opened up about the financial reality of being a first-time feature film director, even on a smash-hit superhero movie.
Miller explained: “You guys might not know, but it’s not really a profitable thing to be a first-time director in Hollywood. I got $225,000 to direct Deadpool. I know it sounds like a lot of money, but for two years of work, that’s not a ton of money.”
The Marvel movie, which starred Ryan Reynolds, went on to gross over $782 million worldwide, proving to be one of the most successful R-rated films ever made.
Despite the movie’s massive success, Miller’s payday was low by Hollywood standards. Reflecting on the situation, Miller said:
“Not that I’m not grateful, I’m f***ing grateful, that’s the way it is because you’re supposed to when you’re a first-time director. My agent said, ‘Dude, you make more on an episode of The Walking Dead!’”
While Deadpool put Miller into the spotlight and launched a blockbuster franchise, he admitted that he couldn’t help but think about what might have been.
He shared: “I feel uniquely fortunate to have been part of what became a huge franchise. Then, then my second thought is, I wish my director deals had a piece of the merchandising so that I could get some money from all of that.”
Miller didn’t return for the 2018 sequel, which was helmed by David Leitch, but the Deadpool franchise continued to thrive. After Disney acquired Fox in 2017, the character was integrated into Marvel Studios’ MCU, and the third installment, Deadpool & Wolverine, directed by Shawn Levy, hit theaters in 2024.
While Miller may not have seen a massive payday from his time directing Deadpool, which is a shame, his work on the film solidified his reputation in Hollywood and helped pave the way for a wildly successful franchise.
Credit:Source link