Ryan Reynolds’ brand of humor has made him a beloved star in Hollywood both on and off the screen, and it still doesn’t feel real to him — even when his movie “Deadpool & Wolverine” grosses more than $1.5 billion.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” became a box office behemoth, pulling in an astounding $636 million domestically and securing its place as the 12th highest-grossing film in history. It now sits just behind Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and ahead of Warner Bros.’ summer sensation “Barbie.” It’s also surpassed the 2019 thriller “Joker” to become the highest-grossing R-rated film ever. And among Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe juggernauts, “Deadpool 3” claims the seventh spot, having recently overtaken “Iron Man 3” globally.
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Reflecting on his latest blockbuster with Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast, Reynolds describes the whirlwind of emotions watching “Deadpool & Wolverine” break records. “It feels great,” he says with a laugh, “but I don’t think you have a normal functioning nervous system if you can actually process that in any real way.”
The modest deflection is classic Reynolds, but the actor takes serious pride in his work sharing how the film fosters unity through joy, an increasingly rare commodity in 2024: “I think people are looking for reasons to come together in smart and fun and unexpected ways.”
On this episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, we speak with the Canadian actor, writer, and producer about the success of his Marvel superhero movie, in addition to what’s next for him, and whether or not he’s open to hosting the Oscars. Listen below.
One of the major talking points in “Deadpool & Wolverine” is the chemistry between Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Their back-and-forth is more than just witty banter; Reynolds believes these characters share a bond deeper than their coping mechanisms. “They both deal with horrific shame,” he says. “Deadpool’s is deflection and humor, Wolverine’s is unblinking violence.”
Yet, it wasn’t just Wolverine stealing scenes with Deadpool. The movie’s ensemble cast includes surprise appearances from Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade and Channing Tatum as Gambit, all of which Reynolds was tight-lipped about before the first screening. “The reaction when Wesley breaks frame and enters the scene, I’ve never heard a sound like that,” he recalls, describing the crowd’s roar at the reveal.
Tatum’s appearance as Gambit, a character the actor once passionately pitched to portray, was “like the icing on a cake that was already so good you didn’t need icing — but now you want it all the time,” Reynolds adds.
With all eyes on Reynolds’ next steps, one hot topic stands out: Hosting the Oscars. Reynolds is flattered, but admits that he and Jackman aren’t available to do it. “It would be a dream to do it one day,” he says. “But I’m writing a movie for myself, Hugh [Jackman] and Shawn [Levy] to do that is not Marvel. That’s it.”
Naturally, he wants to see more comedies recognized by the Academy, which leads him to share who he thinks is the all-time biggest snub: “One of the greatest, most, greatest injustices is that Eddie Murphy doesn’t have an Oscar for ‘The Nutty Professor’”
Not surprisingly, this year is all about balance for the actor-producer, who prioritizes family time over Hollywood obligations. “The ‘Deadpool’ movies consume my entire life, but I’ve got four kids, and I love my kids.”
And then, there’s the matter of his future with Marvel. Reynolds offers no clear answer on whether Deadpool might appear in the next “Avengers” film, keeping his cards close to his chest. “I’m not even being cagey,” he says, laughing, “We’ll see what happens there.”
Through all his memorable performances, such as “Van Wilder,” “Buried” and “The Adam Project,” Reynolds remains a storyteller at heart, sharing it was films like “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” that made him fall in love with movies. But for him, there’s no better feeling than being on a movie set: “I love hearing other points of view, perspectives, and lived experiences. There’s nothing like it.”
A combination of comedy, and industry savviness, continues to keep him one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars, leaving audiences eager for whatever he does next — even if he’s keeping most of it a secret.
Also on this episode of the podcast, the Variety Awards Circuit Roundtable looks at the early contenders for this year’s Oscars race — and the reaction out of some of the fall festivals.
Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast, hosted by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley and Michael Schneider, who also produces, is your one-stop source for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each episode, “Awards Circuit” features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives, discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines, and much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere you download podcasts.
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