Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are great friends in real life and are finally coming together in one film, playing their most iconic Marvel characters in Deadpool & Wolverine. Outside of that, the two have one thing in common which is, that both have worked with director Shawn Levy over the years, and the trio is responsible for bringing audiences the new Deadpool film.
Before Reynolds and Levy started their successful collaboration with Free Guy, the director worked with Hugh Jackman in 2011’s Real Steel. It seems that the Wolverine star knew that Levy would be a great match with Reynolds, surprisingly predicting their successful personal and professional relationship that they currently have.
Hugh Jackman Laid the Seeds For Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds’ Collaboration
Before the trio of Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman came together on Deadpool & Wolverine, the two actors worked together way back in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. They became great friends but never got to work again together. Shawn Levy came into the mix when he directed Jackman in 2011’s sci-fi sports film Real Steel.
During the production of the film, Jackman laid the seeds for the future as he predicted Levy and Reynolds’ union in the future. In an interview with People, Levy stated that Jackman told him he and Reynolds would be an electric combination and the duo would never feel like stooping, eventually becoming a successful collaborative duo. He said,
“Hugh said, ‘For what it’s worth if you ever meet and work with Ryan Reynolds, you’re never going to stop,’ That was 2010. Hugh Jackman, the prophet — a little-known special talent.”
Jackman’s prediction came true as Levy and Reynolds have formed a creative brotherhood sort of relationship in the past few years. They have made successful projects like Free Guy, The Adam Project and now Deadpool & Wolverine, finally bringing the whole team together. Levy and Reynolds will collaborate further (via Empire) for a heist film after the Marvel film.
Shawn Levy Was in Awe Seeing Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Superhero Costumes
Shawn Levy is gearing up for the release of the new MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. The trio have been great friends for years and Levy was incredibly giddy about directing them together in the MCU. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the director claimed that he and everyone making the film had goosebumps when the two stepped out in their superhero costumes.
Levy mentioned his tight bond with the two actors but stated that they become larger than life and powerful once they become their iconic Marvel characters. He said,
“This will sound like a scripted answer, but the straight-up truth is that when they first stepped out in their costumes — it was a camera test before we shot — every one of us froze. Goosebumps, These are my buddies; they have been for over a decade, but those guys in those suits as those characters, they become something bigger than real people,” he continues. “They become icons, and it’s a crazy thing that those suits have such a power.”
With the film’s footage shown at CinemaCon getting immense praise and appreciation, the anticipation of the film has skyrocketed at an unprecedented level. The tease of the film’s ‘wild’ popcorn bucket has also raised the excitement level among audiences (via Collider). The MCU film will also star Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen.
Deadpool & Wolverine hit theatres on July 26, 2024.
Fans can watch/rent Jackman’s Real Steel on Amazon Prime.
