Disney/Marvel Studios
In 2022, Shawn Levy had a mission: to bring together Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in a film. As he told /Film, he was determined to be the one to unite these two cinema titans. And so, he did – or more accurately, Reynolds made it happen.
Reynolds, who is as famous for his Mint Mobile adverts as his acting career, collaborated with Levy on 2021’s “Free Guy” and 2022’s “The Adam Project.” When the third “Deadpool” film was in the works, the pair joined forces again to introduce the Merc with a Mouth to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And to Levy’s delight, Reynolds brought Jackman along for the ride.
Jackman, best known for his role as Wolverine, had seemingly hung up his claws after 2017’s “Logan.” However, it appears that he was persuaded by Reynolds to reprise his role for a Deadpool-Wolverine crossover. When “Deadpool & Wolverine” received the go-ahead from Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, it seemed that Levy had achieved his goal of bringing together these “magnificent gods.” Yet, it transpired that for a third “Deadpool” film to materialize, Reynolds was more interested in collaborating with Levy than coaxing Jackman out of Wolverine retirement.
The Single Condition for Deadpool 3 by Ryan Reynolds
Disney/Marvel Studios
For “Deadpool & Wolverine” to become the R-rated box office success it is today, several pieces had to fall into place. Firstly, the quality of MCU movies had to decline, prompting Kevin Feige to explore new ways to reignite the Marvel magic. Then, Feige had to agree to Hugh Jackman’s return as Logan, a decision made after a personal phone call from Jackman himself. Lastly, Shawn Levy needed to deliver a quality film – a feat that’s subjective based on your opinion of “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
However, for Ryan Reynolds, one condition was non-negotiable: Levy had to direct. In an interview with SFX, the “Night at the Museum” director recalled how he became involved with “Deadpool & Wolverine” while working with Reynolds on “The Adam Project.” According to Levy:
“[Reynolds] says, ‘Okay, I know you’re going to say no, but I’ll only do Deadpool again if you direct it.’ I told him I’d love to direct that movie, because the truth is, if you work in the big-canvas filmmaking space, as I have since those ‘Night at the Museum’ movies, it’s a dream to be able to tell a story on that kind of epic and anthemic canvas.”
Given their previous collaborations on “Free Guy” and “The Adam Project,” Reynolds’ insistence on Levy directing his MCU debut might come as a surprise. Perhaps the two share a strong friendship, or maybe Levy is a dedicated Mint Mobile customer.
Shawn Levy: The Marvel Aficionado
Disney/Marvel Studios
Some critics, including /Film’s Chris Evangelista, have suggested that Shawn Levy directed “Deadpool & Wolverine” with the flair of a car commercial, much to the delight of marketing guru Ryan Reynolds. Despite this, Levy made efforts to avoid the overused Marvel green screen look that has characterized the franchise’s recent phase. Clearly, Levy attempted to guide the film in a particular direction, indicating a degree of dedication to his role.
Intriguingly, Levy revealed to SFX that he is a “fan of Marvel movies,” stating, “I was already a fan of Deadpool and a huge fan of Wolverine, so the opportunity to join the ‘Deadpool’ franchise but to do something notably different was compelling.” Yet, it remains unclear what Levy means by “different” in the context of “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
True, the film is teeming with more cameos than any other MCU movie, and it’s the first time we’ve seen Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool in a buddy cop-style adventure. However, many argue that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is merely the absurd end point of a franchise that succumbed to audience capture years ago, indulging the worst instincts that led to the MCU’s gradual decline. If that’s considered “different,” then so be it. Regardless, with “Deadpool & Wolverine” grossing over a billion dollars, none of the stakeholders are losing sleep over whether the film is good or not.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
