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2024-07-27 09:03:00
Every great movie has a great story behind it. But in the case of Deadpool & Wolverine, that story is more than just a long, sincere, and charismatic friendship between two iconic names: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. In fact, in various interviews, the duo has mentioned that beneath all the action and references to the MCU, the core of their new movie is basically a story of friendship and love.
However, over 15 years ago, neither the Australian nor the Canadian had in mind that the laughs and respect they would form would become the trigger for one of the most important superhero movies of the year. And with just a couple of days to go before its release, fans are already considering them the “saviors of Marvel,” which inevitably leads to curiosity: how did it all start, and what events had to unfold for both actors to reach this point?
The friendship between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman actually started as a playful rivalry. According to Jackman, Scarlett Johansson may have been the unwitting instigator of this playful dispute between the two. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Hugh explained how around 2008 he began teasing Ryan, who at that time had just married the actress who would later portray Black Widow.
“I used to tease Ryan because he was very friendly with Scarlett, and she had just married him. When Ryan arrived on set, I would say, ‘Hey, you better behave because I’m watching you,’ and we started joking with each other like that,” recalled the actor who plays Wolverine.
As fans of the Canadian’s personal life know, that marriage ended in 2011 after the couple’s divorce. But what marked the end of a marriage, only a couple of years before, would be the beginning of a long friendship. Over time, the jokes started to become more frequent and especially public.
It wasn’t until 2015 —when Ryan had been married to Blake Lively for three years— that Jackman posted a video on Instagram that went viral. In that clip, Reynolds appeared made up with Deadpool’s scars, imitating Hugh with his Australian accent. And it was this moment that publicly marked the beginning of their friendship-rivalry.
The supposed “rivalry” between Jackman and Reynolds initially centered around Reynolds’ desire to create a Deadpool and Wolverine movie, which he had been contemplating just a year after the release of the successful first film in the trilogy starring “the merc with a mouth.” Since then, both actors, who met formally on the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009, have continued their public banter and have had fun “trolling” each other on social media.
In January 2017, Reynolds made clear his desire to create a joint movie with his character Deadpool and Jackman’s Wolverine. “I have no idea if I can change his mind”, Reynolds told Variety at the time. “It’s the audience: I would exclusively exploit that relationship to get Hugh to come back for another movie.”
Unfortunately, just a few months later, Jackman would announce the end of his time as Wolverine. The movie Logan would be the last time the Australian would portray the character after having brought him to life on screen for nearly 20 years of his acting career. Thus, Reynolds’ dream was coming to an end.
At that time, Reynolds reiterated his comments to Entertainment Weekly, claiming that not all was lost: “What we’ll have to do is convince Hugh. If anything, I’ll need to do what I can to get my internet friends back on board and help boost another cause in the future”.
For his part, Jackman expressed his thoughts on the situation to Variety: “I’m hesitant. I can totally see how it would be the perfect combination. But the timing might be off.” Despite this, Reynolds did not get discouraged even by the fact that his friend was basically telling him no to the offer.
Life continued for both, and in 2018 Deadpool 2 was released, which would replicate the success of the first installment and bring to the screen none other than the character of Cable, played by Josh Brolin. The curious thing was that Brolin had played Thanos in the final chapter of the Avengers. A good inclusion, but the best was still far from arriving.
In February 2019, Ryan and Hugh announced on their social media that they were ending their fun “feud.” As a gesture of goodwill, both actors agreed to make advertisements for each other’s companies: Reynolds for Jackman’s Laughing Man Coffee; and Jackman for Reynolds’ Aviation Gin.
Reynolds wrote: “Official truce with @realhughjackman! As a gesture of goodwill, I’m going to make a beautiful ad for his company, Laughing Man Coffee.” Jackman shared the same photo, saying: “Official truce! I’m going to make the most amazing ad for Aviation Gin.”
However, the truce lasted only a short while. In August 2019, the “feud” rekindled when Jackman injured his hand during his tour and jokingly blamed Reynolds. The latter commented on the same post: “I just don’t think you practiced enough.”
In 2020, Jackman celebrated his 24th anniversary with his then-wife Deborra-lee Jackman with a heartfelt message on social media. Reynolds seized the opportunity to continue the joke, commenting: “Hang in there, Deb.” Later on, the couple would announce their divorce after being married for 27 years.
During the same period, from 2017 to 2023, both Jackman and Reynolds dedicated themselves to making a couple of movies outside the superhero realm. Hugh portrayed American senator Gary Hart in the political movie The Front Runner and lent his voice to the character Sir Lionel Frost in the animated film Missing Link.
In 2019, he embarked on his first world tour called The Man. The Music. The Show., presenting songs from The Greatest Showman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and musical numbers from Broadway/Hollywood. At the same time, he was named a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Additionally, he starred in the comedy-drama Bad Education (2019) alongside Allison Janney and acted in Florian Zeller’s movie The Son with Laura Dern. Later on, he returned to Broadway with the revival of The Music Man, where he portrayed Harold Hill between December 2021 and January 2023, earning a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.
Meanwhile, Ryan Reynolds solidified his career as an actor and producer. After starring in Deadpool 2 (2018), he jumped into the voice acting world in Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), where he took on the main role with facial motion capture and voice for the iconic electric Pokémon. He also starred in Netflix’s action thriller 6 Underground (2019).
In 2020, he lent his voice to the character Guy in The Croods: A New Age. In 2021, he appeared in three films: Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard as Michael Bryce, the action-comedy Free Guy as Guy (and provided voice and facial capture for Dude), and the Netflix thriller Red Notice as Nolan Booth.
He also made a promotional short Deadpool and Korg React as Wade Wilson/Deadpool. In 2022, he continued his career with the role of Adam Reed in The Adam Project, where he was also a producer. He had an uncredited cameo in Bullet Train and starred in Spirited as Clint Briggs, in addition to being a producer. He was an executive producer for Shotgun Wedding (2022). In 2023, he made a cameo in Ghosted as Jonas.
Initially, Ryan Reynolds proposed a low-budget version for this installment, with an estimated cost between 5 and 6 million dollars. As he explained, this version would not include significant special effects and would be presented as a “road movie” starring Deadpool and Dopinder, the taxi driver played by Karan Soni in the first two installments. However, this idea was discarded as the project evolved.
One of the keys to making this third installment was the prior collaboration between Reynolds and Shawn Levy. Jackman had previously suggested Levy to work on something with his good friend, which led to Free Guy and The Adam Project. Despite these successful collaborations, convincing Levy was not an easy task due to his reservations about the superhero genre.
In a recent interview, Levy mentioned that he rejected most proposals based on intellectual properties he received every week, but his perspective changed radically when the possibility of bringing back Hugh Jackman as Wolverine was considered. This change in direction convinced the Canadian director of the potential of this new adventure, fueled by the synergy between the characters of Wade Wilson and Logan.
Jackman’s return as Wolverine also led to a change of plans for the actor, who had originally decided that Logan would be his last appearance as the character. However, after watching Deadpool 2, Jackman decided he wanted to return, prompting a crucial phone call with Reynolds. This decision reinforced Levy’s confidence in the project and confirmed his participation as director.
Thus, with both actors in the project established as world-class stars and a director who had already proven his capability, Deadpool & Wolverine has been in theaters since July 25 and promises to mark a before and after in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Future Trends in Superhero Cinematic Collaborations: The Case of Deadpool & Wolverine
The much-anticipated film Deadpool & Wolverine highlights an interesting trend in the superhero genre: the blending of character universes through strong actor friendships. As audiences continue to crave more complex narratives and character dynamics, the industry may see a rise in collaborations that focus not just on action but also on the personal bonds that develop between characters. The genuine camaraderie between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman serves as a foundation to explore this trend further.
This evolution isn’t just a fleeting fad. As seen in the film industry, fans connect deeply with characters who have meaningful relationships, showing a longing for stories that emphasize friendship, loyalty, and humor amidst chaos. This trend could redefine how studios approach character development, leading them to pair heroes and villains with unique backgrounds and contrasting personalities to create engaging narratives that resonate with audiences.
The impact of social media also looms large in shaping these dynamics. The playful rivalry and banter between Reynolds and Jackman have captivated fans long before this film’s release, showcasing the power of digital interaction in marketing and engagement strategies. Future projects may utilize social media platforms more effectively to develop character relationships, sparking excitement and anticipation organically.
Moreover, director Shawn Levy’s involvement signifies a shift toward collaborating with creatives known for their work outside of conventional superhero films. This could lead to a diversification of storytelling techniques and genres within superhero narratives, drawing from comedy, drama, and even musical elements to enhance the viewing experience. As filmmakers explore new directions, audiences will be treated to fresh perspectives on familiar characters.
Lastly, the increasing popularity of limited series and one-off films presents an opportunity for deeper character exploration. With successful standalone narratives like Logan spotlighting Wolverine’s journey, studios might consider smaller, character-driven projects alongside their massive blockbuster franchises. This approach not only caters to the craving for diversity in storytelling but also allows actors to flex their creative muscles in unique ways.