If Deadpool 2s tracking numbers are any indication, Josh Brolin is having his best year ever. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the foulmouthed superhero movie starring Ryan Reynolds is projected to earn between $130 million and $150 million in North American theaters alone in its opening weekend.
Thats a staggering figure, but its also on par with the first film, which opened in February 2016 to $132.4 million—notching the biggest opening for an R-rated movie in history. It also doesnt hurt that the film has gotten pretty warm reviews—though not every critic has been a fan). In addition to its North American returns, Deadpool 2 is also projected to make north of $100 million in its overseas debut.
This, of course, must be thanks to the Midas touch of Brolin, who plays dark antihero Cable in Deadpool 2—a time-traveling baddie with a weaponized metal arm. The film is his second go-round at the superhero box office this year: Brolin also made a dramatic turn in Avengers: Infinity War as Thanos, the giant purple villain on the hunt for cute gems that will help him kill half the worlds population. Not only did that movie have the biggest global opening weekend ever, but it also sprinted fairly quickly past the $1 billion mark. All that, and despite the fact that Thanos is a C.G.I. creation that doesnt really resemble Brolin, some people actually think hes attractive. Maybe its Thanoss hideously furcated chin; maybe its the twinkle of genocide in his eyes! No, its clearly because Thanos has Brolin-esque features, due to his mo-cap performance and voice work. This may be no country for old men, but its much country for Thanos-by-way-of-Brolin thirst.
How will Brolin follow up this box-office-busting run? By going back to his roots to star in a dark drama—specifically Sicario: Day of the Soldado, the Emily Blunt-less sequel to the blistering 2015 film Sicario. Hes also got another Avengers movie in his future, as well as more Cable vehicles if a third Deadpool and a first X-Force movie come to fruition down the line. As they will, if studios know whats good for their bottom line.
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:The Must-See Looks from the Solo PremiereYohana DestaYohana Desta is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
[contf] [contfnew] 
Vanity Fair
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
