Oscar favourites Moonlight, La La Land and Manchester By The Sea all landed WGA nominations on Wednesday in a selection largely in line with the season`s predictions.
Deadpool`s surprise nod confirms suspicions that the unlikely hero - played by Ryan Reynolds - is to become a strong Oscar contender, having already won two Golden Globe nominations for best comedy and best actor in a comedy.
The film, directed by Tim Miller and adapted from the Marvel comic book, has been a huge commercial success, grossing more than £600m worldwide.
The WGA awards are not always the strongest indicators of Oscar material - mostly due to their complicated affiliation rules - but are nonetheless highly regarded.
The last time a raunchy comedy such as Deadpool was considered by the Guild was when director Paul Feig teamed up with actress Kristen Wiig for Bridesmaids.
The 2011 film was nominated for best original screenplay and ended up being considered by the Academy under the same category.
The latex-wearing superhero will be going against Denis Villeneuve`s Arrival, Tom Ford`s Nocturnal Animals, Denzel Washington`s Fences and Theodore Melfi`s Hidden Figures.
La La Land, Moonlight, Manchester By The Sea, Loving and the low-budget hit Hell Or High Water - the highest-grossing indie film of 2016 - will be running for best original screenplay.
Out of the race at the WGAs is Martin Scorsese`s passion project Silence, Mel Gibson`s Hacksaw Ridge, Pablo Larrain`s Jackie and Jim Jarmusch`s Paterson.
Winners will be announced on 19 February in Los Angeles.
/SkyNews/
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