In addition to taking a lead role, Reynolds would produce and is at work on a new script, writing alongside Enzo Mileti and Scott Wilson, whose joint screenwriting resume includes season 4 of ‘Fargo.’
And on the directing front, editor Shane Reid (who was one of two editors on ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’) is stepping up to make his shot-calling debut.
(L to R): Jeff Bridges and Clint Eastwood in 1974’s ‘Thunderbolt & Lightfoot’.
The original 1974 ‘Thunderbolt & Lightfoot’ starred Clint Eastwood as a bank robber disguised as a preacher and on the run from his old gang, who erroneously believe he double-crossed them.
When he meets up with Lightfoot, a low-level street thief played by Jeff Bridges, the two come up with a plan to team with the old gang for a new bank job. Nothing goes as intended.
The movie was the directorial debut of Michael Cimino, who would later go on to win a best directing Oscar for his 1978 Vietnam War drama ‘The Deer Hunter.’ Cimino also wrote the script for ‘Thunderbollt.’ Bridges earned an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor for his performance.
And stop us if we’re wrong, but we’re thinking… could this be the movie that reunites Reynolds with his pal and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ co-star Hugh Jackman? Actually, don’t stop us. We like the idea too much.
What else is Ryan Reynolds up to?
Ryan Reynolds attends the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
Despite saying he’s taking a break after all the effort he poured into the last Deadpool movie, Reynolds has seemingly been as busy as ever, just more behind the scenes. That is when he’s not appearing in Mint Mobile commercials every other TV ad break.
Just this week, he signed on to star as the villain in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of ‘Eloise,’ based on the children’s book series written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight, which he and his Maximum Effort colleagues are producing. He is also a producer on ‘John Candy: I Like Me,’ the documentary on the late great comedic actor that premiered at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and is now streaming on Amazon.
Besides those, there are his rumored plans for a Deadpool/X-Men crossover and various other potential movies.
When might the new ‘Thunderbolt & Lightfoot’ be on screens?
With the movie still in a relatively early development phase, Amazon MGM has yet to commit to an actual release date. But it sounds like there is some positive forward movement.
Ryan Reynolds in ‘Smokin’ Aces’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Ryan Reynolds is working on ideas for a new ‘Deadpool’ movie.
He’s looking into teaming the character up with the X-Men.
There’s no word on what might happen with the movie.
With last year’s smash success ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’Ryan Reynolds leapfrogged into the position of being among the most valuable performers –– and creators –– among the Marvel ranks.
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But since that movie’s release (which earned more than $1.33 billion worldwide), Reynolds has largely been playing coy about future plans for masked nuisance Wade Wilson. Neither he nor Marvel has confirmed whether he’ll show up in either of the two new team-up movies (those would be ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ which recently confirmed the first part of its sprawling cast) and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars.’
He’s also been stepping back from the acting side of his career in the last few months, with word that he’s juggling several writing projects, including a comedy about a reforming boyband (more on that below) that could see him reunite with ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ co-star Hugh Jackman and director Shawn Levy.
Still, the Deadpool whispers continue, and according to The Hollywood Reporter, Reynolds is working on various treatments for an ensemble film featuring three or four X-Men characters. Deadpool would of course appear, but perhaps only as a supporting player.
The actor/writer/producer is said to believe that keeping his f-bomb wielding anti-hero more on the sidelines could allow for the X-Men characters to be used in unexpected ways. Reynolds has been open about every Deadpool movie needing a strong reason to exist, and it’s possible this could provide the avenue he needs.
Ryan Reynolds attends the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
Right now, it’s all just noodling, Reynolds figuring out what he wants to do without directly involving Disney and Marvel (though you know both companies will be interested to see what he comes up with).
And he’s said that he doesn’t intend to have Deadpool really find a place amongst the likes of the Avengers for storytelling reasons.
“I like that he’s isolated. If Deadpool becomes an Avenger or an X-Man, we’re at the end. That’s his wish fulfillment, and you can’t give him that.”
Not to mention that Marvel is already exploring its own X-Men future, with ‘Hunger Games’ prequel writer Michael Lesslie at work on a script for the mutant heroes.
Chances are we’ll have to wait a while to see what Reynolds comes up with –– he prefers to take his time honing his treatments, and went through several different variations of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at the early stage before it evolved into its final form (and that was partly thanks to Jackman’s decision to come back to the role of Logan/Wolverine).
(L to R) Hugh Jackman, Shawn Levy, and Ryan Reynolds attend ‘The Adam Project’ World Premiere at Alice Tully Hall on February 28, 2022 in New York City. Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Netflix.
The other big project Reynolds is scripting at the moment is tentatively titled ‘Boy Band.’
Right now, much of the movie is a mystery –– we don’t know exactly what aspect of the boy band life would be featured.
But given that Reynolds is looking to reunite with his friend and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ co-star Jackman on the new movie, we can imagine something catching up with the former members of a boy band group who have since gone their separate ways.
The Netflix TV series ‘Girls5Eva’ covers similar territory, albeit from the point of view of a girl group.
“I’m on a second draft. The first draft was incredible and written by one of my favorite writers, Jesse Andrews [‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’]. Now I’m on my lonesome. There are no dates or anything just yet. I’m not filming anything for at least a year. This feels like it needs to have an extremely modest budget, and one that wouldn’t be all about going to pay above-the-line actors. Shawn, Hugh and I are open to creative ways to make this movie at an absolute bargain.”
And this was his quote about the trouble with boy bands:
“A lot of members of boy bands — and there are a lot of them — had managers who left them high and dry. They experienced levels of fame that would be very difficult for anyone to navigate, let alone an adolescent, when you are farming out your self-worth to an audience of screaming people. It creates a kind of arrested cultural development. They’re forever associated with that period of time in their lives. This would be about people in their 40s and 50s trying to get their lives back. I think there is something beautiful about that. The north star for me as a producer is joy. I feel like cynicism is a contracting industry and doesn’t have a great shelf life.”
When might we see a Deadpool/X-Men team-up movie on screens?
(L to R) Hugh Jackman, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Dafne Keen, Ryan Reynolds and Jennifer Garner in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
This concept would likely be a few years away if it actually happens –– not only does Reynolds have to commit to a treatment and write (or co-write) it, but there’s also the matter of Marvel approving it and then finding space on its busy release schedule to get it into theaters.
Of course, Reynolds has a lot of sway after the success of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ but the next couple of years alone are packed with planned movies, not to mention that while his most recent film had nods to the X-Men, the Marvel brass is also planning its own use of the classic characters in ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ now filming. And the company is also putting the pieces in place for a rebooted mutant team in the future.
Conan O’Brien will host the 2025 Oscar ceremony. Photo: Team Coco.
Preview:
Conan O’Brien will host next year’s Oscars ceremony.
The announcement comes after a lengthy search.
O’Brien has experience with shows such as ‘The Simpsons’ and his own late night output.
Each year –– aside from when a previous host such as Jimmy Kimmel agrees to return –– there is the seemingly long slog for the team behind the Academy Awards in finding a suitable host for the televised ceremony of handing out trophies to some of the best movies and performances of the past year.
Now we finally know who has the job: Conan O’Brien, a man who is best known for his comedy career, his relatively short-lived stint in primetime late-night TV and his resurgence after that.
Conan began his late-night hosting career in 1993, taking over for David Letterman on NBC’s ‘Late Night.’ After an ill-fated, year-long tenure at ‘The Tonight Show’ after replacing Jay Leno in 2009, O’Brien later moved to TBS for ‘Conan,’ which he hosted from 2011 to 2021.
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In recent years, he transitioned from anchoring a late night talk show to hosting a hit podcast, ‘Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,’ and presiding over a podcasting empire under the banner of Team Coco.
He’s an interesting choice –– certainly a proven talent in both writing and performing, but perhaps not as well-known as some previous hosts. Still, his job will be to make some initial jokes and keep the ceremony moving and we’re fascinated to see what he comes up with.
Who else was considered for this year’s Oscar ceremony?
(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman attend the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
While the search for a new host is private, there are always leaks and speculation about who might take the stage, following a legacy that has included the likes of Kimmel, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Lewis, Hugh Jackman and Bob Hope.
This year, while Kimmel was offered the chance to return, he turned it down, and comedian John Mulaney also reportedly passed on the job. There was also talk of Jackman coming back, this time alongside ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ co-star/pal Ryan Reynolds, but that has not worked out.
AcaConan O’Brien as Oscars host: Conan and the Producers Speak
Conan O’Brien in ‘Conan. Photo: TBS.
In his own, inimitable, self-deprecating style, O’Brien had this to say about the choice:
“America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang were more straightforward in their own press release:
“We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year. He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise. His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best –– honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year.”
Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich had this to say:
“Conan is a preeminent comedic voice, whose decades-long success is marked by his distinctive humor and perspective. He joins an iconic roster of comedy greats who have served in this role, and we are so lucky to have him center stage for the Oscars.”
Finally, this was the comment from Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan:
“Conan has all the qualities of a great Oscars host –– he is incredibly witty, charismatic and funny and has proven himself to be a master of live event television. We are so looking forward to working with him to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood’s biggest night.”
When will the 97th Oscars be on TV?
The 97th Academy Awards are set to air live on ABC on March 2nd next year, starting at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
The 2025 Oscar ceremony will take place on March 2nd. Photo: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Nearly six years after ‘Deadpool 2,’ the self-proclaimed “Marvel Jesus” has returned to the big screen and this time, he brought his BFF Wolverine with him. Real-life BFFs Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reprise their roles as Deadpool and Wolverine, respectively.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ finds Wade at a peaceful time of his life, retired from his usual superhero duties. All was well until the TVA came knocking on his door. Agent Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) reveals to him that his entire timeline and everyone he cares about will soon cease to exist due to it losing its “anchor being”. Deadpool travels to various timelines to find a Wolverine to replace the one that was lost in order to save his world.
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Director Shawn Levy (‘Free Guy’) is at the helm for the highly anticipated film. The movie features a slew of familiar Marvel characters, unexpected cameos, visceral fight scenes, and a fantastic soundtrack.
(L to R) Ryan Reynolds, Peggy aka “Dogpool” and Hugh Jackman attend the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
The film premiered at the David H. Hoch Theater in New York City on July 22, 2024. The movie was released domestically on July 26 in formats such as IMAX, RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, and 4DX. Initially, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ was set to release on September 6, 2024. However, the film moved up to its July 2024 release date following the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike. The movie has a total runtime of 2 hours and 8 minutes.
Did you miss it in theaters? You’re in luck! The movie became available for rent or purchase on digital on October 1. You can rent for $24.99 or purchase for $29.99 on platforms such as Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube, Vudu, and more.
After debuting at a staggering $636.6 million domestically, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ surpassed the 2023 box office hit ‘Barbie,’ becoming the 12th highest-grossing film. Globally, the movie has earned over $1.3 billion. It currently holds the record as the highest grossing R-rated movie.
For physical media lovers, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K Ultra HD. A steel book Blu-Ray edition is also available, and you can pre-order it at retailers such as Target, Walmart, or Amazon.
The Blu-ray and 4K version will include bonus features such as a gag reel, deleted scenes, commentary with director Shawn Levy, and stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, and featurettes such as:
Finding Madonna: Making the Oner
Practical approach: Celebrating the Art of Ray Chan
Watch the official trailer for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’:
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The official synopsis for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is below:
Deadpool’s (Ryan Reynolds) peaceful existence comes crashing down when the Time Variance Authority recruits him to help safeguard the multiverse. He soon unites with his would-be pal, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), to complete the mission and save his world from an existential threat.
Who’s In the Cast of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine
(L to R) Dafne Keen, Hugh Jackman, Channing Tatum, Wesley Snipes, Ryan Reynolds and Jennifer Garner in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
(L to R) Hugh Jackman, Shawn Levy, and Ryan Reynolds attend ‘The Adam Project’ World Premiere at Alice Tully Hall on February 28, 2022 in New York City. Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Netflix.
Preview:
Ryan Reynolds is writing a new movie.
He’s aiming to re-team with ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’s Hugh Jackman and Shawn Levy.
It’s reportedly not a Marvel movie.
If you enjoyed ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (and given its record-breaking, $1.33 billion haul to date, many of you have, more than once), you’ll be happy to learn that stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman and director Shawn Levy, are looking to reunite for a new project.
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But before visions of snarky clashes and cameos from other Marvel characters begin to dance in your head, a reality check: according to Reynolds, the project that he’s cooking up does not involve their comic-book characters.
“I’m spending the year writing. I’m writing a movie for myself, Hugh [Jackman] and Shawn [Levy] to do that is not Marvel.”
So what is the new Ryan Reynolds movie about?
Ryan Reynolds attends the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
That’s the billion-dollar question at this point. Reynolds offered up no details about what the new movie might entail, beyond the fact that he’s spending the next few months, possibly the next year, working on a script that will see him share the screen with Jackman once again, and for Levy to call the shots.
The trio are, of course, all good friends –– Reynolds and Jackman having previously shared the screen in ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ and developed a bond, while Levy directed Jackman for ‘Real Steel.’
We don’t yet know where the new movie will land but given the enormous success of their previous collaboration (Marvel trappings or no), you have to guess that studios and streamers to will be scrambling to get a look and secure their services.
Also, despite Reynolds naysaying, the possibility remains that he’s quietly coming up with ideas for a future ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ team-up, assuming they’re not already on the roster for the upcoming ‘Avengers’ movies due to hit screens in 2026 and 2027.
(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman attend the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
Add to that a variety of projects in development and his various business ventures, including co-chairman of Wrexham Football Club, whose ongoing efforts will be documented when Hulu series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ returns next year.
As for Jackman, he’s playing a farmer in sheep detective mystery (not a joke) ‘Three Bags Full,’ and is co-starring with Kate Hudson in ‘Song Sung Blue,’ about a real-life husband-and-wife Neil Diamond tribute act.
The actor and singer also has a series of live shows in New York with dates across 2025.
And there remains, of course, speculation that the two actors are hot favorites to host next March’s Oscar ceremony. Nothing has been announced yet, but they’re certainly on the wishlist for the producers.
(L to R) Director Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman from ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Shawn Levy Movies Starring Ryan Reynolds and/or Hugh Jackman:
Available now on digital and Blu-ray and streaming on Disney+ beginning November 12th is the box office hit ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, which is the third movie in the ‘Deadpool’ franchise and the first to take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Dafne Keen attends the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dafne Keen about her work on ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, how she found out she would be returning, returning to the character of Laura, how she’s changed since ‘Logan’, reuniting with Hugh Jackman, working with the rest of the cast, which scenes were improvised, the action sequences, the challenges of keeping her appearance a secret, collaborating with director Shawn Levy, what she learned from Ryan Reynolds, joining the MCU and the possibility of her appearing in future Marvel movies.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
(L to R) Dafne Keen in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Moviefone: To begin with, when did you learn that you would be returning to play Laura / X-23 in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and were you given the entire script to read before shooting?
Dafne Keen: I got a call from my agent to tell me, and then I had a FaceTime with Shawn, and I had a bunch of guy friends over at my house and I locked them outside in the garden while I was on the phone to Shawn. Then Shawn said to me, “All your scenes are with huge actors, but I can’t tell you who.” Then I got the full script, but it was so heavily spoiler free in the sense that they changed all the names for everything, but I understood the story. I just didn’t know who anyone was. So, watching the film was cool. I was like, “Oh, that’s crazy.” I kind of figured it out because I’d go into a costume fitting and I’d see a picture of someone on the wall and I’d be like, “Wait, who are they playing?” It was cool. It was fun and I’m happy that I got to read the whole script and it was exciting.
MF: What was it like working with Hugh Jackman again all these years after ‘Logan’?
DK: Yeah, it was weirdly, it was like no time had passed. We started acting and it was like we were doing ‘Logan’ yesterday. It was weird and wonderful.
(L to R) Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen attend the premiere of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
MF: Can you talk about how Laura has changed since ‘Logan’ and did you create a backstory for yourself about how she ended up in the Void?
DK: I think as an actor you must. I think it was fun playing her as an older character, especially now because she’s got this sense of gratitude that she didn’t have in ‘Logan’. She’d been so wronged by men and by men, I mean humans. I think she had no faith in humanity, and I think Charles (Xavier) and Logan restored that in ‘Logan’. After losing them, she kind of has this sense of loss but still gratefulness for them and getting to have her reunite with Logan is such a huge thing for her and getting to play that felt like a big emotional beat for that character.
MF: As a comic book fan, I think ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ might feature the greatest superhero team-up of all time. What was it like for you to work with Jennifer Garner, Wesley Snipes and Channing Tatum and be a part of this incredible onscreen team-up?
DK: It was so cool and they’re just the most lovely, wonderful people. We had the best time and as a fan it was just crazy when you hear the superheroes you are sharing the screen with are Gambit, Elektra and Blade. Then you meet them and they’re the loveliest, most nurturing, funniest people, so we just had the greatest time on set.
(L to R) Hugh Jackman, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Dafne Keen, Ryan Reynolds and Jennifer Garner in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
MF: Famously, Ryan Reynolds loves to improvise on set. Did you have a chance to improvise with him in any of your scenes?
DK: I didn’t get to do as much, but I got to witness Channing and Ryan do a lot of it, which was fun. I felt like I was in a master class for comedy. It was really cool, and everyone was so talented, but they had a lot of comedic beats that I got to just stand back and enjoy.
MF: Can you give us an example of a scene that Ryan and Channing improvised?
DK: I think the line where we’re in the cave, and Channing’s like, “I shot out my mama and I said, What’s up, Doc?” That was an improv, and we were all dying. That whole interaction between Ryan and Channing was improvised. The “Who’s your dialect coach? The Minions”, I think that was an ad lib. It was so impressive, and it was cool to then be at the premiere and all their improvisations was getting so much love and laughter. It was exciting to know that it was all kind of in the script, but it was all like an ad lib variation of it.
Channing Tatum as Gambit in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
MF: What was it like filming the final battle sequence in the Void? How many days did that take to shoot?
DK: It took a while. It took a week I think, and I had to go back because I had all the wire work for climbing up the skull. I had to come back in the end of January, and it was so fun. We had the best time. It’s the most fun I’ve had doing stunts ever. To get to train with these people, it’s incredible. I came into training, and it was like Channing, Wesley, Jennifer, Ryan, Hugh. It was so cool, and we were all just so excited to be there and we all love these characters so much. We all felt so lucky to be there, which I think is such a rare thing. A lot of people are ready to go home and to wrap the day and we were all just happy to stay. If they’d ask us to do 20 hours of overtime, we would’ve all been like, “Yeah, I’m here and I’m so excited to do this.” It was cool. We were all kind of nerding out with everyone with their weapons. I had the claws back and I was so excited about the glasses. Channing was so excited about throwing the cards. He’d learned a bunch of impressive card tricks. It was very cool.
MF: Can you talk about the challenges of keeping your involvement in the movie a secret, especially when you were doing press for ‘The Acolyte’?
DK: I enjoyed it. It was quite fun. It’s cool to do these interviews and I got to be like, “It’s so sad. I’m not in it.” I knew I’d filmed it and we’d had a great time on set. Also, it felt exciting. It was a cool surprise for the fans, and it felt like such a special thing, and it was such a special thing for me. It was quite funny because my two co-stars and my very good friends, Amandla (Stenberg) and Charlie (Barnett) who were in the show with me knew. So anytime I’d get asked around them, they would giggle. So, if you look at the interviews, they’re trying to look down and trying to be nonchalant when we all knew it. So, it was quite funny.
Dafne Keen attends the premiere of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
MF: Is it true that you were added to the film’s final trailer specifically so you could attend the premiere without any questions?
DK: I don’t really know. Maybe. I was going to go to the premiere as far as I know in the capacity of, “Oh, Hugh invited me.” That was the original lie, and then they were like, “We’re putting you in the trailer, which means you can come to the premiere.” So maybe it was to come to the premiere. That was the original plan, and it would’ve worked because we’re buddies. It is exciting. I was happy I got to go.
MF: What is Shawn Levy like as a director on set?
DK: I love that question because I love Shawn. Shawn is one of my favorite people to ever work with. He’s such a wonderful human being and such an incredible director. He’s got such incredible dexterity and such an amazing range of talent that he can do. I’ve seen him directing the funniest, most absurd scene, and then I saw him directing us in the bonfire scene, which was a kind of heavy, hard-hitting thing. He was so incredible at the nuance and knowing when things had to be cool and big and what he was doing for the fans and when they had to be small and human and raw and when he had to do cuts and when he didn’t. He was so kind of gentle in his directing with us, but so honest and so specific with his notes in a really special way. He also loves making films, and I love making films, so it was so cool to be around someone who kind of loved it and was excited to be there. Like I said, we were all just so excited to be there and Shawn was the first one and he infected us all with this incredible joy and excitement for the project. I truly feel so honored to have worked with him and I think he’s already one of the biggest directors, but I think he’s going to go down in the history books for me.
MF: In addition to being an actor, Ryan Reynolds is also a screenwriter and producer, and basically the force that makes these ‘Deadpool’ movies possible. What did you learn from working with him that you will apply to your own career moving forward?
DK: I learned so much from observing Ryan on set. He’s such an incredible creative. He’s so dedicated and so hardworking and he’s got such an incredible mind. I was so impressed by how he was on everything. We’d be acting and he would be acting and improving while thinking about the script change for another scene that they were going to shoot three days later while thinking about producing. It was so impressive to watch him, and I think him, and Hugh and Shawn are such incredible hard workers that I honestly felt like I was in a masterclass the whole time and five minutes with those guys felt like 20 years of lessons. I think Ryan really taught me a lot and I got to really observe his process, even just as an actor, he’s so impressive. He’s got such incredible range. You see him in a character like Deadpool where he’s being so funny, and he’s got scenes where he is being hilarious, absurd, ridiculous and outlandish. Then you see him when he is talking about Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) in the film and it’s completely heartbreaking and devastating and you can really see that in his career and in the things he’s picked. You can see completely comedic characters and then you see the character that he did in ‘The Voices’. I’ve always just really looked up to him as a creative. So, getting to share the screen with him was huge.
MF: Finally, thanks to ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, ‘Logan’ and the character of Laura / X-23 is now cannon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. How does it feel to be part of that legacy and is it possible that we will see you playing this character again in the MCU at some point?
DK: I mean, even hearing you say that ‘Logan’ is canon is so crazy to me. I’m still kind of absorbing that and the possibility is so exciting. I mean, I’ve said this a trillion times. I would play Laura for the rest of my life, and I would be content. She’s the most incredible character to play and I have so much fun playing her, and I have so much love for her, and I have so much love for Marvel. So, I’d pay them to have me back, honestly, if I’m being completely honest. So of course, I really hope I get a call, even if it is to do another tiny little silly cameo in something. I’d be happy. Any chance I get to be here again and get the claws back on, I’ll take it.
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What is the plot of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’?
Six years after the events of ‘Deadpool 2’, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) lives a quiet life, having left his time as the mercenary Deadpool behind him, until the Time Variance Authority (TVA)—a bureaucratic organization that exists outside of time and space and monitors the timeline—pulls him into a new mission. With his home universe facing an existential threat, Wilson reluctantly joins an even more reluctant Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) on a mission that will change the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Josh Brolin may play Hal Jordan in DC’s ‘Lanterns’ series.
He’s not officially attached yet.
Damon Lindelof and Chris Mundy are among the producers of the new show.
July brought word that the long-gestating DC Studios TV series for HBO based on comic book property ‘The Green Lantern’ entitled ‘Lanterns‘ is officially greenlit and putting the pieces together.
With DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran as executive producers (though not showrunners –– see who is below), the show received the go-ahead for eight initial episodes in a straight-to-series order.
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And if current reports pan out, we may know one person who would be starring in the series, as a site called Nexus Point News has heard that Josh Brolin has been offered the role of Hal Jordan.
While reporter Jeff Sneider has also heard those rumblings, here’s where we point out that none of this is official yet and is currently still more rumor than fact.
Brolin, of course has had both good and bad experiences in the comic book genre –– ‘Jonah Hex’ didn’t turn out so well, but he saw big success playing Thanos for Marvel. But this could be an exciting new role for him.
What’s the story of ‘Green Lantern’ in comics form?
DC Comics’ Green Lantern. Photo: DC Comics.
Created in its first incarnation (a Lantern named Alan Scott) in 1940 by Martin Nodell and Bill Finger, the concept of the ‘Green Lantern’ comics is that of a super-powered, police force, battling evil doers with rings that allow them to channel energy into different forms. There are many Lanterns, who patrol the known and unknown universe.
‘Green Lantern’s history on screen has been seriously mixed. Though different takes on the character have flourished in animated movies and series, their live-action counterparts have had less luck. Ryan Reynolds played the Hal Jordan version in a 2011 movie that didn’t triumph at the box office, and there have been fleeting glimpses on the small screen.
Even Zack Snyder didn’t manage to realize his chosen Lantern –– John Stewart –– in his mammoth Snyder Cut of ‘Justice League’. Despite shooting a cameo with Wayne T. Carr as Stewart, Warners asked him to remove the character because of the studio’s own plans. In the end, Snyder swapped in Martian Manhunter.
(Center) James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.
Gunn has Nathan Fillion playing the Guy Gardner incarnation in his ‘Superman’ movie, which lands on July 11th next year.
And the show had been in development before Gunn and Safran made their big announcement. Back in 2020, ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ Seth Grahame-Smith hopped aboard to write and run what HBO Max (as the streaming service was then called) was picturing its most expensive series to date, a space-set ‘Green Lantern’ drama whose focus would be the Alan Scott and Guy Gardner iterations of the character among the first and most popular versions.
‘Lanterns’ will follow the Hal Jordan and John Stewart characters, as new recruit Stewart and Lantern legend Jordan are described in the latest official synopsis as “two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.”
Who is working on ‘Lanterns’?
(L to R) Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart from DC Comics. Photo: DC Comics.
And, according to Jeff Sneider, there have been talks for Lindelof’s ‘Watchmen’ collaborator, director Stephen Williams, to handle the first episode of the new series.
Channing Tatum as Gambit in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview:
Ryan Reynolds released a deleted scene from ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
The moment hints at Channing Tatum’s Gambit escaping the Void.
Tatum has been vocal about his desire to keep playing the character.
Once upon a time, Channing Tatum was going to be Gambit.
That time was 2014, and the actor was signed on to star in and produce a movie about the card-slinging, Cajun-accented X-Men character who had previously been brought to screen in animated form and by Taylor Kitsch in live-action for 20th Century Fox’s ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine.’
Of course, we all know what happened next… or rather, what didn’t happen. The ‘Gambit’ stand-alone lingered in development limbo as filmmakers came and went (Tatum, who later turned to directing, even offered to handle it himself if it would help), and by the time Disney bought Fox, the project was pretty much dead.
Until Deadpool. Yes, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ one of the smash hits of the summer, the movie that has burned through multiple box office records (worldwide total at time of writing? $1.2 billion and counting) finally gave Tatum the chance to play Gambit on screen.
And now the movies’ star/producer/writer Ryan Reynolds has released some deleted footage to social media that offers a hopeful hint for Gambit’s future.
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What did Ryan Reynolds post about Gambit?
Ryan Reynolds attends the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
Quick spoiler alert for the four people who have yet to see ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’… near the end of the movie, it’s implied that Gambit, along with some other veteran characters, might have been swallowed by giant cloud creature Alioth.
But it appears that’s not the case for Gambit.
Taking to Instagram, Reynolds put up a snipped scene from the movie, which you can find below:
In the small moment, we see Gambit walking through the wreckage of Cassandra Nova’s (Emma Corrin) forces, and there is a distinct color behind him, which indicates the presence of a portal (or, as Reynolds puts it both on film and in his caption, a “Marvel Sparkle Circle.”)
What does that mean for Gambit? A potential escape from the Void where he was born.
What has Channing Tatum said about returning as Gambit?
Channing Tatum as Gambit in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
In an interview with Variety, Tatum said this about his hopes for returning as the character:
“I would do lots of terrible things to make that happen. I wanted it for the last 10 years. It’s in Bob Iger and Kevin Feige’s hands. I pray to God. Write it into existence, friend.”
He also wrote more directly on social media himself, thanking Ryan Reynolds for the chance to actually play the role, however briefly:
“I thought I had lost Gambit forever. But Ryan fought for me and Gambit. I will owe him probably forever. Cause I’m not sure how I could ever do something that would be equal to what this has meant to me. I love ya buddy…I’m so grateful to be in this movie. It’s a masterpiece in my opinion. And just pure bad ass joy. I was literally screaming in the theater.”
At the moment, our sad guess would hew closer to negative territory. Even given the popularity of the character and the reception for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ overall, Marvel’s plans for the mutant characters have yet to be confirmed. So while we’d never say never, we’re also not holding our breath.
The cast of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Photo: Marvel Studios.
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(L to R) Director Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman from ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview:
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ has made more than $1 billion at the box office.
It joins ‘Joker’ as an R-Rated movie to have achieved that.
And the Blake Lively-starring ‘It Ends With Us’ has also had a successful launch.
As it launched to gigantic success at the US box office and beyond, all eyes turned to whether ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ would join the select club of R-Rated releases to cross the $1 billion mark, an achievement only reached so far by ‘Joker’.
And, as the movie continues its groundbreaking run, we all begin to realize that it would indeed cross that marker, the only question remaining being when.
Now we know: ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ made $1.029 billion through Sunday this weekend, factoring in an international take of $535.2 million and domestic of $494.3 million.
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What milestones has ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and Disney now passed?
Among the many milestones that the movie has passed is reaching the billion mark faster than ‘Joker’ (though it has a China release to help with its income).
It’ll likely supersede ‘Joker’s total by the end of the week, which will make it the highest-grossing R-Rated movie of all time. And it’s the most successful movie for both its stars (that would be Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman) and director Shawn Levy.
It also continues the good news for Disney as a studio, which now marks as the only film distributor to have two $1 billion releases in one year.
In total, 55 industry titles have passed the $1 billion threshold with Disney home to 31 of them (including three Fox titles).
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has 11 (including two at Sony, thanks to Spider-Man). Marvel Studios is responsible for more $1 billion+ films than any studio outside of The Walt Disney Studios itself.
Blake Lively attends the “It Ends With Us” UK Gala Screening at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 08, 2024 in London, England. Photo: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.
The adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller, which has been embraced by the online book crowd to an enormous degree, had plenty of anticipation (and some behind-the-scenes drama), Blake Lively as star and producer and a buzzy, if somewhat controversial combo of romantic drama and domestic violence in its storyline.
‘It Ends With Us’, directed by Justin Baldoni, tells the story of Lily Bloom (Lively), a florist who gets caught in a love triangle between a charming but abusive neurosurgeon, Ryle (Baldoni), and her first boyfriend, Atlas (Brandon Sklenar).
All that has turned the movie into a hit from the start, with the movie managing to earn more than ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ on its opening day (we’re sure there was much mirth in the Reynolds-Lively household over that), and ended up with $50 million domestically, and $80 million globally, a fine start for a movie that carried a $25 million budget.
So, yes… Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have effectively had a “Barbenheimer” weekend. A “Dead Ends” weekend? Yeah, we’ll workshop that one.
(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman attend the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.
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And now, talking to Collider, he’s opening up about one that got away: Nicolas Cage. The actor played Johnny Blaze, AKA Ghost Rider, the stunt driver-turned-demonic vigilante in two Marvel movies produced by Sony, the 2007 original, simply called ‘Ghost Rider’ and 2011 follow-up ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’.
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Neither exactly wowed the crowds, but he’d surely have been another perfect nod to Marvel movies gone by. Not to mention how much fun Reynolds’ Wade Wilson could have had at the expense of the flaming-skulled warrior. Sadly, it was not to be.
What happened with Nic Cage and the Ghost Rider cameo?
Nicolas Cage in 2007’s ‘Ghost Rider’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
As Reynolds admits, the idea for Cage to return as Blaze got as far as them discussing it.
Here’s what Reynolds said about it:
“Yes. Came to a conversation for sure. Yeah, but no.”
So there you have it. No Cage for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ Which feels like a missed opportunity, but you can imagine Cage having doubts about digging into that particular chunk of his cinematic past, no matter how much he seemingly enjoyed playing Johnny Blaze. And how willing he has been to poke fun at himself in the past, particularly via 2022’s ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’. Cage’s AI-fueled appearance as Superman in ‘The Flash‘ may have also left a bad taste in his mouth regarding reprising his role in cameo in another legacy superhero movie.
Who else didn’t make it in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’?
Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier in ‘X2’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
It wasn’t just Cage who didn’t end up in the movie. According to ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’s co-writer and director, Shawn Levy, the character of Professor Charles Xavier, played on screen by Patrick Stewart and later James McAvoy was never seriously considered.
“Never even discussed. He was studied. Studied by Emma Corrin big time because the Cassandra sibling-hood to Professor X is really interesting to us. But no, never discussed. Never, never considered.”
Yes, Xavier is indeed the brother of Emma Corrin’s powerful mutant Cassandra Nova, who is the film’s chief antagonist. But it appears there were never plans for either Stewart (who reprised the Xavier role in a cameo for ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘) or McAvoy to show up, even given the Stewart version’s warm connection to Jackman’s Wolverine.
Still, both Stewart and McAvoy feature in the clip montage that provides an epilogue to the 20th Century Fox Marvel movie universe playing during part of the end credits.
What has Channing Tatum said about a Gambit movie?
Channing Tatum at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Blink Twice’. Photo Credit: JC Olivera.
One person who most definitely shows up as a cameo is Channing Tatum, finally getting the chance to play fellow mutant Gambit, after his character’s movie was lost in development limbo when Disney bought Fox.
Talking at the premiere for new thriller ‘Blink Twice’, he expressed hope he might one day still get a stand-alone movie.
“I sure hope so. From your mouth to God’s ears. Write it into existence, Please. I’ve been saying I want it for the last 10 years. It’s in Bob Iger and Kevin Feige’s hands. I pray to God.”
Maybe he should be praying to Marvel Jesus instead?
What’s happening with ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’?
The superhero buddy comedy continues to soar at the box office and is expected to win the weekend once more on its way across the $1 billion mark.
The cast of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Photo: Marvel Studios.
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