When it comes to the buddy-cop chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, it’s not just their chemistry—it’s a full-fledged electric storm that keeps on giving! It was a typical Friday in London, except for the dynamic duo promoting Deadpool & Wolverine, their upcoming blockbuster packed with snarky humor and action.
Imagine the joy of Reynolds’ children as they watched their silver screen hero, Hugh Jackman, leap about in The Greatest Showman—a treat for the eyes too young to comprehend their fortune. Yes, Reynolds could not resist praising Jackman at a press conference and telling the tale of how one day he returned home to find his kids watching their all-time favorite film. No, it is not Gavin Hood’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine; rather, it is The Greatest Showman.
The Greatest Showman Revisited: Ryan Reynolds’ Ode to Hugh Jackman
Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and their chemistry were on full display in London as they were discussing their latest cinematic masterpiece, Deadpool & Wolverine (via The Guardian). Known for their playful banter and off-screen antics, the actors are set to reprise their roles in Marvel’s upcoming flick.
Reynolds, ever the jokester, couldn’t help but shower Jackman with praise, joking that the former’s children would one day appreciate their dad’s accomplishments, even if it took them 20 years. He recounted a humorous anecdote about catching his daughters watching scenes from Jackman’s hit film, The Greatest Showman.
Reynolds confessed how he felt a twinge of envy at his kids’ blissful ignorance of their famous father’s Hollywood status. To quote the Green Lantern star:
I’m like: you little b*stards, you have no idea just how good you got it. They won’t appreciate this for 20 years.
The movie’s ensemble cast also includes Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Michelle Williams, and Zac Efron. While the performances, music, and production values of The Greatest Showman won praise from critics, its artistic license drew criticism (see Digital Spy).
Anyway, the real magic of Deadpool & Wolverine, according to Reynolds, lies in the authentic camaraderie between the two leads. The actor also marveled at Jackman’s uncompromising integrity and kindness, admitting:
We’ve known each other for almost two decades and been through a lot together. And he and I are very outwardly jokey, but in real life, most of our conversations are intense and emotional.
As the summer box office heats up with sequels galore, Deadpool 3 is poised to shatter records and dominate the R-rated film category.
Ryan Reynolds’ Insights on Working with Kevin Feige
Ryan Reynolds also credits Marvel’s visionary Kevin Feige for allowing filmmakers creative freedom (The Guardian). In the actor’s words:
I feel like Disney’s kind of fair game. A gigantic capitalist machine. I don’t feel I’m gonna get a lot of hate mail over that.
With the film series’ loyal fan base eagerly awaiting every plot twist & turn, Reynolds confessed that keeping mum about spoilers was the toughest challenge of the press tour, leading to moments of near disaster and wild rumors circulating about surprise cameos. The actor confessed:
I hate it. It’s the worst. We live in constant terror. I’ve been on the brink of disaster six times in the last five days.
In an interview with Empire Magazine, Reynolds described the numerous iterations that Deadpool & Wolverine underwent. An original concept he had was a “Rashomon story about Deadpool and Wolverine… told from three completely different perspectives”.
However, Feige rejected the idea, having long wondered how to include mutants and the X-Men in the MCU. Whatever the case, he continued:
Ryan is an idea machine. So he may have pitched that to me, but he also pitched 25 other thoughts and ideas.
Based on the teasers and what we have seen of the film thus far, Deadpool and Wolverine appear to be the biggest characters to come out of the MCU. Still, there is one thing about Reynolds: he truly loves to keep his audience guessing. When Deadpool & Wolverine opens in theaters on July 26, we will find out for sure!
Both The Greatest Showman & X-Men Origins: Wolverine are streaming on Disney+.
