Ryan Reynolds shares photo of early 'Deadpool' mask

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Ryan Reynolds teased his Deadpool costume Thursday on Twitter.

The 38-year-old actor shared a photo of an early prototype of a mask created for the Marvel character. Reynolds first portrayed the mercenary in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and will return to star in a stand-alone film in 2016.

Sepia tone disguises the fact the mask is ballerina pink. It's early. 365 sleeps early. #deadpool #prototypes pic.twitter.com/PekFa2KS7S

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) February 12, 2015

Reynolds announced in December that he will reprise the character. In the Marvel comics, Deadpool is the alias of Wade Wilson, nicknamed the "Merc with a Mouth" because of his propensity to talk. The unstable and morally ambiguous mercenary possesses accelerated healing powers.

Reynolds previously played the title superhero in DC Comics film Green Lantern (2011). The actor is scheduled for a number of upcoming projects, including Criminal with future Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot, and will next appear with Helen Mirren in Woman in Gold.