In the last few years superheroes of all kinds have faced a wide range of villains in countless action adventure movies. Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds says Deadpool, Marvels anti-hero about to hit cinema screens, is redefining the genre.

The film tells the story of former Special Forces agent turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who undergoes a rogue experiment to treat his cancer. The operation leaves him scarred but also with powers that allow him to heal quickly and Wilson, soon Deadpool, seeks revenge on the man who carried out the experiment.

With plenty of dark humour, violence and offensive language, the film has an R rating for the big screen in the US and a 15 in the UK. Reynolds said that the movie is a game changer for superhero movies. While superhero movies are gritty and dark Deadpool, he says, is the opposite, describing it as a nice refreshing change of pace.

The movie, directed by Tim Miller, also stars The Transporter Refueled actor Ed Skrein, Silicon Valley actor TJ Miller and Homeland actress Morena Baccarin. Deadpool hits cinemas worldwide from 9 February, and has already received mostly positive reviews.