Now that the question of whether or not Deadpool fans would actually get their big-budget film has been answered, and Ryan Reynolds is teasing his long-awaited involvement, the production seems to finally be moving forward with measurable momentum. The exact story that the movie will follow may still be under wraps, but the first word about supporting cast members being sought has arrived.

With Deadpool expected to be a more comedic action film than the rest of Fox’s X-Men universe, it’s not so surprising to hear TheWrap reporting that actor T.J. Miller (Transformers: Age of Extinction, Silicon Valley) is up for a supporting role, with Ed Skrein (Game of Thrones) also being eyed for what sounds like the film’s villain.

The outlet’s sources aren’t say much else, simply referring to T.J. Miller’s role as “an additional comic voice to compliment Deadpool”. That choice of words – and Miller’s literal voice work in projects like How to Train Your Dragon and Big Hero 6 - might imply a role as one of the numerous voices in the starring mercenary’s head. However, fans of the comics may have another theory.

Bringing a voice to one of the splintered sections of Wade Wilson’s (Reynolds) psyche is possible, but it’s worth mentioning Deadpool’s sidekick/arms supplier/best friend Jack Hammer (a.k.a. ‘Weasel’). The role of a brilliant, but somewhat neurotic and offbeat foil to Deadpool is right up Miller’s alley, and one that we would be surprised to see missing from the finished film given the characters’ shared history.

Ed Skrein, on the other hands, has apparently been in talks for even longer than Miller, though his role is even more of a mystery. But given the actor’s upcoming attempt at stepping into Jason Statham’s shoes in in The Transporter Legacy reboot, and his limited appearances as Game of Thrones‘ ‘Daario Naharis’, it’s safe to assume it will be action-oriented. With Reynolds expected to hold the spotlight when it comes to fight choreography (if the leaked test footage is anything to go by) then a role as the film’s villain seems a safe bet as well.

As is usually the case when dealing with comic book adaptations, that could mean any number of possible Marvel Comics villains. The traditional archnemesis to the ‘Merc with a Mouth’ is usually considered to be ‘T-Ray’, the man who may or may not have been the real Wade Wilson before he crossed paths with the regenerating mercenary. However, considering how clumsy that plot can be for newcomers, it seems more likely that Skrein will be playing yet another augmented member of the X-Men universe’s Weapon X program.

That could include any one from Wildside (able to turn a person’s reality upside down), Ajax (rendered unable to feel pain) or even X-23 ( a clone of Wolverine) – or perhaps an entirely new creation simply meant to bridge the gap between Deadpool‘s fiction and that of the larger X-Men mythology. If the studio’s plan is to build towards a Deadpool/Wolverine showdown, then a larger emphasis on Weapon X is a wise first step.

We’ll keep you updated as more details arrive, but for now, how do you feel about these rumored frontrunners? Do they make sense for the roles we suspect they may be filling, or do you have other choices in mind? Sound off in the comments.

Deadpool is set to release on February 12, 2016.