With the new Deadpool & Wolverine movie, it looks like Ryan Reynolds has gotten so into the role that, at times, it’s hard to tell where he ends and Deadpool begins. In interviews about the film, it’s clear that the superhero feels like he was made just for him.
Looking at Reynolds’ entire career reveals that his connection with the character has been there from the start. The thing is, his more humorous style isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and Wesley Snipes was one of those who didn’t quite vibe with it.
Ryan Reynolds Made His MCU Debut Before Deadpool
For many, Ryan Reynolds as a superhero isn’t exactly groundbreaking, after all, he’s still remembered for his role as Green Lantern in the DC universe. But while Deadpool was his big break, Marvel had already given him a chance to show off his heroic chops before that.
Blade: Trinity was the final film in the trilogy about the superhero Blade, played by Wesley Snipes. In the movie, Reynolds joined the cast as part of the Nightstalkers, who assist Blade after he loses his mentor. Playing Hannibal King, Reynolds showcased his personality and knack for improvisation, a skill that really shines through in his role as Deadpool.
In an interview with IGN in 2004, he mentioned how easy it was to work on set, as he felt free to improvise and fully embrace his sarcastic style. A scene with actress Parker Posey was a prime example of this:
It was free flowing. Man, you sit down with Parker Posey and I’m in heaven. I feel like I could have shot that for ten years. We just lit the script on fire at that point and we were like, ‘All right, let’s roll it and let’s do it.’ The DVD is going to be so f***ing unbelievable for that scene, because there are 900 variations of what went down in that torture scene…
Although he thinks his career has thrived because he doesn’t take himself too seriously most of the time, he admits he needs to strike a balance and be more serious when it counts, since he’s playing a hero. Snipes, on the other hand, seemed to be the complete opposite, and Reynolds admitted that working with him wasn’t exactly easy.
Ryan Reynolds Was Despised By Wesley Snipes On The Set Of Blade: Trinity
Truth be told, the final film in the Blade trilogy was fraught with significant conflicts, mainly due to Wesley Snipes. One of the challenges during the production was Ryan Reynolds’ attempt to get his co-star to step out of character.
In the same interview with IGN, Reynolds revealed that Snipes stayed in character as Blade even when the cameras weren’t rolling. Although Reynolds tried to break down this barrier to lighten the mood on set, he acknowledged that Snipes is a method actor and respects that. Despite his efforts, it wasn’t like the two really got along.
There’s a moment in the movie where I look up at Jessica and I swear to God, I didn’t even know the cameras were rolling anymore and I say, ‘He hates me, doesn’t he?’ And she’s like, ‘Yeah.’ I’m just saying this about my relationship as Ryan Reynolds to this guy, and it works. The ad libs are just born of that.
He added that it was a major challenge and something he had never experienced before. Apparently, all his attempts to make the actor laugh fell flat. He even recalled a particularly memorable moment:
There’s another one where I do a dime store psychoanalysis of him where I say, ‘You ever thought about sitting down and talking with someone, getting in touch with your inner child, and also you might want to try blinking once in a while.’ He just looks at me like he’s gonna turn me into a** pulp…
Although some people didn’t warm up to Reynolds at first, it’s clear that no one can resist his charisma and humor for long. The only exception seems to be Wesley Snipes.
Blade: Trinity is available to stream on Max.
