MADRID.- “Deadpool and Wolverine” hits theaters on July 25. Shawn Levy’s film marks the debut of the characters played by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in the Cinematic Universe of Marvel (UCM) and it was a project that both actors had in mind for some time. Apart from being colleagues, the actors share a deep friendship and do not hesitate to exchange praise. In fact, Jackman has even compared his partner to legendary figures of the seventh art such as Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin.
“There’s no one else, no other actor now or ever who can do what Ryan does to create such a lively character,” Levy said at the press conference for the film’s presentation in London. “I’m glad you said that, I’m glad you mentioned it, because it’s incredible to watch,” Jackman agrees, highlighting the level of dedication and “detail” in Reynolds’ performance to “communicate with every part of his body.”
At this point, Jackman points out that when he visits Reynolds at his house, he often catches him watching comedy classics. “Then I think, this is a modern Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin, this is his level,” he proclaims between jokes and laughs. And in this saga, the actor plays the antihero Deadpool, who normally appears on screen dressed in his characteristic red and black suit, with his face hidden by the mask, so the actor explains that his hands, his voice and even the most subtle movement “are transmitting the facial expressions” that he cannot use.
“It’s a job like a clown,” Reynolds simplified, referring to how he works with his entire body to bring the character to life. “I never really feel more free than when I’m under that mask,” the actor confessed. On the other hand, Reynolds is not shy when talking about his co-star and friend. “I’ve never met someone with such integrity,” he admits.
Reynolds took the opportunity to revisit his earliest memory of Jackman, when the two were together on the set of 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. “I was in the presence of someone who was not only cool but kind and down-to-earth and understood the mission of unity on set and knew everyone’s name and I remember thinking, ‘If I’m ever lucky enough to be in his position, I hope I’m one-tenth of what that man is,'” he recalled.
In addition to starring in the film, Reynolds is writing the script alongside Levy, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Zeb Wells. Bringing Deadpool and Wolverine together in a joint adventure was a project the actor had been pursuing for quite some time, being the first proposal he made to Marvel years ago.
“Telling a story that is anchored in character, about characters that are larger than life, is a really juicy opportunity for a storyteller,” Levy said. The filmmaker does not hesitate to underline the emotional part of the film, suggesting that it may be “one of its most subversive elements.” “It is, ultimately, a film about friendship,” the director observes.
There was time to delve deeper into the characters, as production was halted by the Hollywood strikes by actors and screenwriters last year. Levy said the strike gave them space to edit and evaluate the hour of film they had already shot: “We were able to sit down and listen to our movie.” Reynolds recalls that when they returned to work they already had “complete character arcs.”
The future of Marvel
‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ will be the only MCU film to hit theaters in 2024, which undoubtedly means that the franchise has decided to slow down in some way. After the fiasco of ‘The Marvels’, which became the worst premiere for the studio headed by Kevin Feige, Levy’s film faces the challenge of overcoming these results and the much-vaunted public saturation in the face of the avalanche of superhero movies and series in recent years.
Since the House of Ideas was initially characterized by cementing its own universe, focusing on films that introduced each superhero and then bringing them all together in ‘Avengers’, it would be expected that ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ points towards the direction that the studio led by Kevin Feige will follow from now on. However, Reynolds has been quick to point out that ‘Deadpool’ “is not an advertisement for another movie. That’s not in its DNA.” “I can’t even imagine what comes after this,” says the actor.
‘Deadpool and the Wolverine’ hits theaters July 25. Aside from Reynolds and Jackman, the film’s extensive cast includes Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapicic, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsona, Rob Delaney, Karan Soni, Leslie Uggams, Aaron Stanford, Kelly Hu and Jason Flemyng, among others.
Source: Europa Press
