Hugh Jackman says collab with Ryan Reynolds yields ‘best version of Wolverine yet’

Hugh Jackman (left) and Ryan Reynolds in “Deadpool & Wolverine” —MARVEL STUDIOS/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS

Deadpool is called the “Merc with a Mouth” for a reason. He speaks his mind without any filter and goes to great lengths to express his unbridled, “R-rated” thoughts.

But Ryan Reynolds, who began playing the disfigured fourth wall-breaking mercenary with regenerative superhuman abilities in 2016, explained at the recent “Deadpool & Wolverine” press con in Seoul, South Korea that the eagerly anticipated film is “accessible” enough to be seen by either his 9-year-old daughter or his 79-year-old mother.

“The movie was never written with the intention of making it as explicit as possible,” explained the 47-year-old star. “It’s always been about the story. The fact that Disney and, previously, 20th Century Fox were behind the two previous Deadpool movies, as well as 2017’s ‘Logan’—which is one of the greatest comic movies I’ve ever seen—demonstrates that it’s always been about the ability to tell an authentic story. That’s the reason behind that kind of [uncensored] freedom.”

While 20th Century Studios now operates under Disney’s far-reaching umbrella, director Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum,” “Stranger Things”) said they were not strong-armed into delivering a “wholesome” iteration of Deadpool—from the world of the X-Men to Marvel’s vaunted universe.

He asserted, “I was never under any pressure to dilute Deadpool. I came into this production as a fan of Deadpool and Logan … and Marvel and Disney understood from the very beginning that [our version] was going to be something different.

“This was going to be the first R-rated MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) movie, and they supported Deadpool’s irreverently unique tone every step of the way—which made it a lot of fun to play in the MCU. It’s a big sandbox filled with mythology, heroes and [comic-book] history. The blood that flows through this movie very much bears the Deadpool DNA.”

For Hugh Jackman, agreeing to revive Wolverine aka Logan wasn’t an easy one, literally and metaphorically.

“I’ve been playing this character for 25 years,” the 55-year-old actor pointed out. At some point, the long-running gig even earned him a Guinness World Record for “longest career as a live-action Marvel character,” until Patrick Stewart reappeared as Professor X in 2022’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”

Hugh added, “But it’s wonderful to be back, particularly for this movie and doing it with Ryan and Shawn, who happen to be two of my best friends in the world. This is a dream project. I am so thrilled to revisit a character I didn’t think I would play again.

“But I embrace it with all my heart. I’ve never been happier playing the role and never been prouder of a movie where Wolverine is in than this one. I’m so excited for you to discover sides of the character we have not explored before.”

Moving around timelines

Of course, “resurrecting” Wolverine, who was brutally killed by his X-24 clone in “Logan,” has taken some doing. As he explained in an interview with SiriusXM in 2022, Hugh said, “It’s all because of this device they have in the MCU of moving around timelines. Now we can go back because, you know, it’s ‘science.’ So, I don’t have to screw with the Logan timeline.”

A 37-minute footage recently screened for select viewers also addressed this contentious issue in a cogent manner. But that’ll all be explained in full when the film opens in Philippine theaters on Wednesday.

Suffice it to say that, in the story, we see Wade Wilson aka Deadpool listlessly toiling away in civilian life. His days as a “morally flexible” mercenary are all behind him. But when his home world faces an existential threat, Wade finds himself suiting up again as he convinces a very reluctant Wolverine to, uh, save the world again. Sorry, folks, no spoilers here.

Gratifying moment

“For me, making these ‘Deadpool’ movies represents a ‘stick-to-it’-iveness that has made it very satisfying,” shared Ryan. “It took me 10 years to get the first movie made. It became one of the most gratifying moments of my life when that film was widely embraced all over the world. The second movie [in 2018] was just like doubling down on an absolute labor of love.

“Then, my dream for the last six years has been to do a movie with Hugh and Shawn. It was not easy to get them to say yes to this, and it was very, very difficult to convince Marvel that this is the way to bring out these characters into the MCU, who had previously been in another universe inhabited by the X-Men.

“Again, it sort of reaffirms the idea that you have to stick to what you believe in, and I still feel incredibly privileged that I get to sit next to these two guys to discuss this film. And when we say we’re the closest of friends, I’m sure you folks are used to hearing most people from Hollywood claiming that,” Ryan said.

Hugh Jackman (left) and Ryan Reynolds —DISNEY PHILIPPINES

“But you shouldn’t believe a word they say because they’re just pathological liars. We, on the other hand, really hang out because we live just blocks away from each other in New York City. I love these two guys the way I love my own brothers … probably more.”

Since Marvel has been going through a rough patch lately, some observers are saying that “Deadpool & Wolverine” could “save Marvel.” Does that expectation place any burden on their shoulders?

“No pressure,” Ryan quipped. “It’s just another normal day at the office. I mean, none of that stuff is self-imposed. It’s been there since the earliest days, when Sean and I were writing this script in my apartment in New York.

Unbridled joy, audacity

“I remember writing this sort of Marvel Jesus bit in the movie, which is really just a way to illustrate Deadpool’s self-delusion. At the time, it certainly wasn’t meant to be a commentary on the film industry or on Marvel’s comic books and film adaptations.

“But yeah, Marvel hit a bit of a rough patch lately, and it required a little reset. Suddenly, that storyline became ultrarelevant, more externally for them than for us. I remember my wife Blake [Lively] asking me, ‘Did you somehow orchestrate it this way?’ But, hey, I’m not that smart!

“When the three of us decided to make this film, we had a very specific North Star, which was to deliver unbridled joy and audacity to audiences. We set out to delight viewers from all over the world.

“I realized that the most powerful magic in storytelling, particularly in the last five to 10 years, rests in the joy it brings to viewers—and that’s what we did here. Our only objective was to create as much joy as humanly possible.

“And I think that really translates well onscreen. I mean, Hugh and I have been friends for 17 years. We’ve been through all kinds of ups and downs. We’ve been there for each other. Meanwhile, Shawn and I have been friends for almost a decade. So we genuinely love and cheer each other on. Each of us really wants to put the other ahead and shows one another in the best light possible.”

Interjecting, Shawn added, “It’s a movie about friendship, right? The story is about a friendship that starts off with conflict—which soon evolves into connection. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ was made by three people who enjoy that connection.”

Hugh said that they’re keenly aware of the moviegoers’ anticipation and high expectations, of course. He mused, “But I can say this on behalf of all three of us… that no one expects more from us than we ourselves. That’s one thing we have in common.

“As someone who’s played the same character for 25 years—this being my 10th film portraying Wolverine—I know that these two, in their capacity as writers and producers, had so much of their heart and soul poured into making sure that this was a version of Wolverine that was the best yet.

“I had never felt someone care as much about my character as these two. They have given me a version of Wolverine that is so exciting and different and satisfying.” INQ