Deadpool & Wolverine will see Wade Wilson and Logan facing several challenges as they officially join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, in real life, Ryan Reynolds faced a different challenge when he and director Shawn Levy met Madonna in person to secure the right to use Like a Prayer to promote the threequel.
In an interview with Andy Cohen on SiriusXM, Reynolds and Levy shared how they convinced Madonna to permit them to license Like a Prayer for Deadpool & Wolverine. The Canadian actor explained that the Queen of Pop doesn’t license songs, particularly her 1989 hit, so it was a big deal to ask for and even use it. So, to take their chance, they personally visited the music icon to make a proposal.
“It did involve a personal visit to Madonna, where we showed Madonna the sequence where Like a Prayer would be used,” Levy said.
But aside from showing where it would be used, Reynolds added that they also demonstrated how and why they needed the track. However, meeting a legendary singer wasn’t easy for the two, as Levy said it felt like they were “meeting royalty.” Reynolds even quipped that he asked one of her team’s members how to address her when they finally met.
“Like, am I allowed to just say, 'Madonna?'” he asked. “Like, 'Hello Madonna, I'm Ryan.'”
Thankfully, the meeting was a success, and Madonna agreed to let them use the song. It even helped that her son was a fan of the first two Deadpool films. To that extent, she even gave them notes on the scene where Like a Prayer would be used.
“She gave a great note,” Reynolds added. “She watched it, and I'm not kidding, [she said], 'You need to do this.' And damn it, if she wasn't like spot on.”
Of course, Levy and Reynolds followed Madonna’s instructions and started a new recording session within 48 hours. Thanks to Madonna, Levy revealed that the sequence had even gotten better, though he didn’t mention the specifics.
The Track List for the Deadpool & Wolverine Soundtrack
Meanwhile, Marvel Studios has recently released the track list for the Deadpool & Wolverine soundtrack, titled VanJamz. In addition to Madonna, several other famous artists are included on the list, including *NSYNC, Avril Lavigne, Aretha Franklin, Green Day, and more.
The soundtrack, featuring 18 eclectic tracks, will be released on Wednesday, July 24. It will also be available on CD and a 12-inch 2-LP vinyl on Friday, July 26. In addition, the movie’s original score digital album, with music by composer Rob Simonsen, will be available in ATMOS on July 25, along with the digital deluxe edition soundtrack that comes with both songs and score. Fans can also stream the official Deadpool playlist on Spotify, featuring all the music from the three films.
For the full list of the soundtrack, you can check below:
Only You (And You Alone) by The Platters
Bye Bye Bye by *NSYNC
Angel of the Morning by Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts
Slash by Stray Kids
Glamorous by Fergie
Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls
The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & The News
I’m a Ramblin’ Man by Waylon Jennings
You Belong to Me by Patsy Cline (Featuring the Jordanaires)
The Lady in Red by Chris De Burgh
I’m With You by Avril Lavigne
The Greatest Show from Zac Efron, Zendaya, Hugh Jackman, Keala Settle, and The Greatest Showman Ensemble
You’re the One That I Want by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta
I’ll Be Seeing You by Jimmy Durante
Make Me Lose Control by Eric Carmen
You’re All I Need to Get By [with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra] by Aretha Franklin
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day
LFG (Theme from Deadpool & Wolverine) by Rob Simonsen
The official Deadpool & Wolverine trailer shows how Levy and Reynolds have strategically added Madonna’s Like a Prayer when the two titular characters enter the scene, making their appearance more epic. That said, with how they perfectly injected the songs into different sequences, as seen in the first two Deadpool movies, the same can be said when the threequel finally releases.
Deadpool & Wolverine is set to hit theaters on Friday, July 26.
