Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are now busy promoting Deadpool & Wolverine all over the world as its much-awaited premiere nears. Recently, the two made a stop in South Korea for a press conference to talk about the new Marvel Cinematic Universe movie and what viewers can expect from their reunion after Gavin Hood’s 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Jackman’s cameo in David Leitch’s 2018 Deadpool 2. As it takes several years after they don their superhero suits again, Reynolds and Jackman call the threequel their “dream project.”
During the press conference at Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno District, Seoul, Thursday, July 4, via The Korea Times, Reynolds revealed his dream to do a movie with Jackman and director Shawn Levy after Deadpool 2. Thankfully, Deadpool & Wolverine came to mind, but the actor revealed he had a hard time convincing Marvel Studios that it would be the best way for these characters to be introduced to the MCU after Fox’s X-Men universe.
“It was very, very difficult to have convinced Marvel that this was the way to come out with these characters into the MCU who had previously been in the X-Men universe,” he said.
However, Reynolds stood by his belief and finally convinced Marvel to do the threequel alongside Jackman and Levy. With this chance, he couldn’t help but be surprised and honored to be with the iconic X-Men actor and the Canadian filmmaker, who is also his frequent collaborator.
Alternatively, Jackman revealed that Deadpool & Wolverine felt especially meaningful to him. Sure, he has played the role for over two decades, having his breakthrough in Bryan Singer’s 2000 X-Men, but her almost retired after James Mangold’s 2017 Logan. That said, he shared his excitement to return as the adamantium-clawed superhero again after seven years.
“I've been playing Wolverine for 25 years but somehow this movie, doing it with Ryan and Shawn, who happen to be two of my best friends in the world, is a dream project,” he said. “I am so proud of how the film came out.”
After Wolverine’s supposed death in Logan, Jackman admitted that he never thought he would play the role again. Hence, he embraced it wholeheartedly and had never been happier to do a Marvel project like this. He even teased the never-before-seen sides of his character would be explored this time.
“I've never been prouder of a Wolverine movie or a movie Wolverine is in it than this one,” he continued. “I'm so excited for you to discover sides of the character we have not explored before.”
Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds Tease What to Expect from Deadpool & Wolverine
In the same press conference, Levy teased that Deadpool & Wolverine would tell a story of friendship by bringing together two iconic Marvel characters, however unlikely they were. However, that bond would never go without conflict and would evolve into a great connection.
“It's a movie about friendship that starts off with conflict but evolves into connection,” the director explained. “And it was made by three people who enjoyed that connection.”
Levy also found it a privilege to do a movie with Jackman and Reynolds, uniting them to tell a story filled with action, humor, and heart set to be a summer blockbuster. With the love fans have for these iconic heroes and their actors, putting them on the big screen together was an honor for him.
On the other hand, Reynolds revealed that Deadpool & Wolverine offers “pure entertainment” to the audience. After Marvel Studios hit a rough patch with the bad reception of its recent releases, like Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels and Chloé Zhao’s Eternals, he said their movie’s storyline “became ultra-relevant.”
“Marvel hit a bit of a rougher patch maybe than normal. They required a little bit of a reset, and suddenly that storyline became ultra-relevant more externally than for us,” he stated. “I don't know about that aspect, but that's not what we're here to do. “When the three of us set out to make this film, we had a very specific north star and that was to deliver unbridled joy and audacity to audiences to delight audiences all over the world.”
Hence, it has become their objective to create “as much joy as humanly possible,” which Deadpool & Wolverine promises to offer. By the looks of it, the film won’t only be a dream project for Jackman, Reynolds, and Levy but also for viewers. With the early positive reviews the film received during the fan screening in China, it looks like Marvel Studios will once again hit the billion mark at the box office, which may end the superhero fatigue.
Deadpool & Wolverine is set to release on July 24 in South Korea and July 26 in the US.
