Tim Miller, the director of the 2016 superhero movie Deadpool, recently talked about how much he earned while working on the film. Even though Deadpool became a huge success, Miller explained that his paycheck as a first-time director wasn’t as big as some might think.
In an interview with Collider, Miller revealed, “I got $225,000 to direct Deadpool. I know that sounds like a lot of money, but for two years of work, it’s not a huge amount.” He explained that this was normal for someone directing their first movie in Hollywood. “Not that I’m not grateful—I’m really grateful—that’s just how it works when you’re a first-time director,” Miller said.
His agent even joked with him, saying, “Dude, you make more money on one episode of The Walking Dead!”
Deadpool, starring Ryan Reynolds as the main character, was based on a Marvel Comics superhero. The movie was a huge success, earning over $782 million at theaters around the world. Fans loved it for its humor, action, and unique style that made it different from other superhero films.
Miller said he was lucky to be part of such a popular franchise. However, he admitted that he wished he had gotten a share of the money made from selling Deadpool merchandise, like toys and other products. “I wish my director deals had a piece of the merchandising so that I could get some money from all of that,” he said.
After directing Deadpool, Miller did not return for the sequel, Deadpool 2, which came out in 2018 and was directed by David Leitch. The success of the Deadpool movies helped the character become even more popular. After Disney bought Fox in 2017, the Deadpool character joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which includes other famous superheroes like Iron Man and Captain America.
In 2024, fans were excited to see Deadpool & Wolverine, the third movie in the series, directed by Shawn Levy. The franchise has continued to grow and remains loved by audiences worldwide.
Even though Tim Miller didn’t make a lot of money compared to the film’s success, Deadpool gave him a chance to show his skills and start a great career in Hollywood.
