DEADPOOL Director Tim Miller Reveals How Little He Was Paid: "[You'd] Make More On THE WALKING DEAD!"

DEADPOOL Director Tim Miller Reveals How Little He Was Paid: "[You'd] Make More On THE WALKING DEAD!"

Deadpool director Tim Miller has reflected on helming the 2016 movie and reveals that he was paid a shockingly low sum for his work on an R-Rated blockbuster which later grossed $782 million worldwide.

By JoshWilding - Dec 24, 2024 06:12 PM EST
Filed Under: Deadpool
Source: Collider

After X-Men Origins: Wolverine, pretty much no one expected 20th Century Fox to make a Deadpool movie. However, when CG test footage was leaked, the studio gave in but remained reluctant to spend too much money on the Marvel Comics adaptation.

First-time filmmaker Tim Miller (who had plenty of VFX experience) was hired to direct the action and faced his fair share of challenges, including a last-minute decision by the studio to cut a major set piece from the final act.

The R-Rated movie went on to gross $782 million worldwide and made the Merc with the Mouth a household name. However, Deadpool certainly didn't make Miller rich. 

"You know what I feel? Nothing but pride," he told Collider while looking back at the 2016 release. "I mean, I feel like every time I walk down the aisles out there on the floor of CCXP and I see all these Deadpool figurines, I think they wouldn't be here if we hadn't made that film. And I feel uniquely fortunate that I could be part of it."

"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.' You guys might not know, but it's not really a profitable thing to be a first-time director in Hollywood, and I'll tell you exactly."

"I got $225,000 to direct Deadpool," the director revealed. "I know it sounds like a lot of money, but for two years of work, that's not a ton of money. Not that I'm not grateful, I'm [frick]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!'"

Miller added, "I think a lot of people think that everyone's getting paid millions and millions in Hollywood. It's just not the case, not always. I don't want to sound like I wasn't grateful because I had worked, I was 50 when I got a chance to direct Deadpool, and I really thought I wasn't going to get a chance to direct a movie even though I'd wanted to my whole life."

It's bonkers that Miller made that little but perhaps not overly surprising when Fox seemed to be gearing up for Deadpool to be a flop. The studio wasn't confident in its chances of success but it proved them wrong and the much bigger budgeted Deadpool 2 followed two years later.

While Miller wasn't in charge of that following creative differences with Ryan Reynolds, he went on to helm Terminator: Dark Fate and has also worked on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and Secret Level

Are you shocked that the filmmaker only made $225,000 for his work on Deadpool?

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Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 12/24/2024, 6:56 PM
In before a bunch of zealots mistake this for an indictment of the MCU because they don't remember that this movie was made before Disney bought Fox.
asherman93
asherman93 - 12/24/2024, 7:33 PM
@Clintthahamster - [frick]ing Rothman.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/24/2024, 7:33 PM
@Clintthahamster - At this point with the amount of knowledge and the amount of facts are on the internet. I'm done arguing logic with people on this site. We all have been here a very long time to know the rights and production issues with all of these franchises. If people are too dense to remember that's on them.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 7:35 PM
@asherman93 - it’s hilarious because I think he’s now in charge of Sony which tells you all you need to know pretty much , especially with the SUMC
Typhoon20
Typhoon20 - 12/25/2024, 6:22 AM
@Clintthahamster - Imagine your first post on this subject isn't to defend people who work in Hollywood to get better pay, but to immediately jump to defend Disney when no one said anything in particular about them specifically. Even though Disney underpays and overworks their staff too.
Forthas
Forthas - 12/24/2024, 7:01 PM
That is a really pawltry sum of money. I hope the actors made some money!
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 12/24/2024, 11:52 PM
@Forthas - ScarJo made 50 million because her solo film flopped. She blamed D+ same day viewing, which is a legitimate claim to receive compensation, but 200x what a director made for a nearly billion dollar film.... Feige be Simper Feigein' for the xx's!



🪙 🪙
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 12/24/2024, 7:06 PM
"I know it sounds like a lot of money, but for two years of work, that's not a ton of money.“
Maybe not live a lavish lifestyle and it would last. I’d love to get paid that much for 2 years of work. 🤷‍♂️
kazuma
kazuma - 12/24/2024, 7:10 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - I 1000% agree. But then the movie made almost $800m and I believe his studio did a lot of work too.
Ryan Reynolds was paid $2m, while the director was paid 12% of what the star got.
eddyxx
eddyxx - 12/24/2024, 7:12 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - doubt he even got that much after taxes, agent fees, dga fees. Plus California has a high cost of living.
Nightwing1015
Nightwing1015 - 12/24/2024, 7:19 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - $112K in LA honestly won't get you too far.
DTor91
DTor91 - 12/24/2024, 8:46 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - Highly doubt that’s the problem….

Especially someone in his position, and trying to get more films out there, it’s a constant hustle. Need money to make money, and a lot of the time it is a loss.

As he clearly said, not everyone in Hollywood is rich. Media has made that seem to be the case for decades. I mean, I would think with all the strikes that took place, people would understand that more. But evidently not.
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 12/24/2024, 8:55 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - You also have to consider the work itself. Two years in your own job may sound like nothing, but the stress of his particular job to him could be very very different, especially in regards to making a studio movie like that.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 12/25/2024, 12:55 AM
@MosquitoFarmer - but if you really think about it, he got paid 225k to spend fox's 55 million to make deadpool despite having little to no film experience. 225k for a 1st time director gig is pretty decent because the risk was higher for fox because they lose 55 mil regardless if was a flop or hit.

if i was a billionaire i wouldn't give any body with 0 to little experience 225k salary and a budget of 55 million to build me a house or building lol. especially if they are going to use my 55 mil to pay a company they own to complete a project, sounds almost like a money laundering scheme lol.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 12/25/2024, 2:25 AM
@AnthonyVonGeek - you are right that you can get by okay with that amount of money but it doesn’t go that far. I make a bit more than that amount and if my wife wasn’t working too it would be tough to live the kind of life style we find comfortable. And he lives in LA, so that money doesn’t go nearly as far.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 12/24/2024, 7:14 PM
This was very informative from him, I had no idea it was like that for him back then. (Or he's been somehwat involved with Sonic)

Wishing him the best in the future so he's picked for another gif. Secret Level so far has been quite cool.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 7:36 PM
@NinnesMBC - he’s also behind Love ,Death & Robots which is another anthology animated show.

He seems to have created a nice niche for himself so good for him!!.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 12/24/2024, 7:39 PM
@TheVisionary25 - Never got to see that one completely like how I'm taking my time with Secret Level. All I can remember is that a ridiculous large number of episodes.

Yes he hasn't had much luck with some movies. I would entrust him with doing a live-action show of Hellboy tbh.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 7:42 PM
@NinnesMBC - i think an animated Hellboy show under him would be better.

Maybe he can even adapt The Goon like he wanted too years ago.

?si=m3yIbqH4tw7oRBH5

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NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 12/24/2024, 8:35 PM
@TheVisionary25 - I would check that out too if it's like that. It's been a long while since Hellboy was given the animation treatment.
MCUKnight11
MCUKnight11 - 12/24/2024, 7:20 PM
This film is single-handendely responsible for the idea of an R-rated CBM being financially viable post 2008.User Comment Image
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 7:37 PM
@MCUKnight11 - were the Blade films successful?

I think those were rated R , the first two atleast
SeansDevil
SeansDevil - 12/24/2024, 9:12 PM
@TheVisionary25 - Oh I remember how successful they were. However, it was pre Ironman, where I think he means. Disney taking over MCU, and Fox not carrying enough about Deadpool is where that came through.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 9:17 PM
@SeansDevil - that’s true.
RolandD
RolandD - 12/24/2024, 9:46 PM
@TheVisionary25 - It leaned into horror somewhat which probably helped an R rating make sense.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 9:54 PM
@RolandD - yep

I just wasn’t sure if it was R or not though I felt like it would be since it’s pretty gory
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 7:33 PM
I mean it makes sense since as he said , it was his first time directing a feature length film period.

He had done a couple of shorts & such for his own VFX , animation and design company Blur Studios aswell as second unit work on Thor:The Dark World but his main expertise was visual effects on movies and games.

It’s amazing he was even given this opportunity in the first place since he had tried to develop other directorial projects before but they never got off the ground so it’s great that he’s still grateful about it but also understandable that he wishes he got more out of it since the character and franchise has become such a huge success off that film.

He did well with the first one and I hope he’s given a chance to not only helm another cbm again but film overall.

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Waifuslayer2
Waifuslayer2 - 12/24/2024, 7:41 PM
Boo fking hoo.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 12/24/2024, 7:45 PM
Still the best Deadpool film too.
Typhoon20
Typhoon20 - 12/25/2024, 6:26 AM
@McMurdo - Nope.

D&W >>>D1>>>D2.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/24/2024, 7:55 PM
The Deadpool trilogy is low key underrated imo

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The weakest one is DP 2 and I still find it enjoyable at the least!!.
micvalpro
micvalpro - 12/24/2024, 8:15 PM
The first one is still my favorite one. The thing I actually love most about it is the love story. As flucked up as they make these two people seem, it’s a relationship most people wish they had.
MisterBones
MisterBones - 12/24/2024, 8:25 PM
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RolandD
RolandD - 12/24/2024, 9:48 PM
@MisterBones - Well that reads a bit more harsh with what we know now.
TK420
TK420 - 12/24/2024, 8:50 PM
Broke pool.
TheJester187
TheJester187 - 12/24/2024, 9:00 PM
That’s your fault! Should’ve have a better agent. It’s ways to work things into deals. But everyone learns to stay humble and grateful in their own ways. So they don’t piss off higher ups and blow there chances of gettin a gig. But I do salute Tim for time and efforts putting this together with Ryan.
alleverybody
alleverybody - 12/24/2024, 9:51 PM
@TheJester187 - first time directors don’t have leverage in demanding a higher salary.

But he should be making residuals.
Cleander
Cleander - 12/24/2024, 9:17 PM
for a director It is surprising that 20th Century Fox him that little even for a first time director
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/24/2024, 9:44 PM
$225,000 + free food and shelter during filming + free travel, food, and accomodations for press interviews and your name gets thrown into the bucket for movies due to the success. Stfu and kick rocks. The average person is lucky to see a yearly salary of $60,000 in the US without additional perks and additional assistance.
alleverybody
alleverybody - 12/24/2024, 9:52 PM
@SonOfAGif - he likely got paid waaaay more to direct Terminator or to try and go clean up Borderlands.
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