Deadpool movie is finally happening, Ryan Reynolds confirms, 2016 release date expected

Reynolds previously played the superhero in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Deadpool finds time to draw a henchman a sketch before killing him (Blur Studios)

A Deadpool film has finally been greenlit, with Ryan Reynolds confirming his involvement on Twitter and declaring it "chimichanga time".

'Long-gestating' doesn't even begin to cover it for this Marvel movie, which finally got kicked into motion after leaked footage showing a more comedic return to the character was lapped up by fans and the studio realised the fondness there is for the character.

Tim Miller, the man behind the leaked test clip, will direct the movie, according to Deadline, from a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

Ryan Reynolds is thought to be closing a deal to play "the merc with a mouth" Deadpool, which he seemed to confirm with the above tweet.

He previously played (a watered down version of) the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Filming is expected to begin early next year with Fox eying a release date of 12 February, 2016.