Ryan Reynolds says it’s a dream come true to finally get the chance to work alongside best friend Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.
The Deadpool actor penned multiple scripts and versions of the film and pitched them to Marvel Studios chief executive Kevin Feige.
On his last attempt of getting it over the line and a phone call from Jackman, Deadpool & Wolverine was created.
“It’s a dream come true for me. I mean, it’s something, right? Since day one of playing this character in this way, I want it to be, you know, standing next to this guy. And for so long, it seemed like that was not going to be a possibility. And, somehow, someway, you know, love prevails,” he said.
Jackman’s character Wolverine died honourably in the 2017 film Logan after the Australian actor decided to retire from the role.
He told Sky News on the red carpet of a sneak peek event in London that was a decision he quickly regretted.
“The first seed in my brain was watching Deadpool One about three days after announcing my retirement and I went, oh, hang on a second, oops,” he said.
He added: “Literally I can tell you the date, 14 August 2022. And it wasn’t [my head], it was just [my heart] saying I really want to play this part opposite Deadpool, and so it is a dream come true.”
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In 2019, Disney acquired 20th Century Fox – making Deadpool and Wolverine official members of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy says blending the two production companies cinematically came as a challenge.
“There obviously was great interest in making a Deadpool movie within the MCU, but it’s tricky threading the needle because it needed to be grounded and realistic enough to be adaptable. It’s not space creatures saving the universe. It’s very much authentic and raw, but it’s also the MCU, so you need it upscaled,” he said.
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One addition that will excite fans of the original comics is seeing Wolverine in his iconic yellow suit.
“I don’t really understand why no one did it before me, but I’m really happy that no one did it before me because there’s pent-up generational hunger to see this actor as this iconic character in this iconic suit. So, for whatever reason, they never did it before and it makes yet another reason why this movie is so unique.”
Deadpool and Wolverine is in cinemas 25 July.