Deadpool & Wolverine director relives moment he pitched awkward Marvel jokes to Kevin Feige
"I was praying he would laugh and not cry."
If there's one constant in the ever-changing world of superhero movies, it's that Deadpool will always find something to poke fun at - and this time, it's the MCU.
Deadpool & Wolverine is the first of the Ryan Reynolds movies to officially have a place in the MCU, and of course that meant that it had to make light of the franchise and the conversation around its recent releases - but it also meant that director Shawn Levy had to have some awkward conversations with Marvel boss Kevin Feige.
Reliving the moment he ran some of those more brutal jokes by Feige, Levy recalled: "I actually remember the first time. Kevin visited us here in the UK, we were at Pinewood, and we showed him that scene where Deadpool is acknowledging that maybe it's not been a string of recent hits.
"My eyes were on the screen, Kevin was over there on the couch and I'm sneaking looks, praying that he laughs and doesn't cry. And he laughed his tail off.
"What I realised is, the thing with Kevin on this movie is he knew exactly what he was getting, he knew that for it to be the best Deadpool-Wolverine movie, it needed to be faithful to the tone and that everything is on the table - including Marvel.
"And, to his credit, the only rule was if it's funny, funny wins. He's been an incredible partner."
Asked about which moments he was most nervous to show Feige, Levy added: "That was one, where we talk about the recent string of Marvel releases. There were a few others.
"The thing about Deadpool is it's such an equal opportunity offender, but there's another line where Deadpool actually welcomes Wolverine and he says, 'Welcome to the MCU, by the way - you're joining at a bit of a low point.' When we pitched that line to Kevin, he laughed.
"I think the key about the Deadpool franchise, starting with the main titles in Deadpool 1, starring God's perfect idiot, is if you're willing to mock yourself, you have license to do so much. And Ryan has always had that willingness to make fun of himself first and foremost."
The new R-rated movie, which is expected to feature a host of Marvel/X-Men cameos, will pick up with Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool, as he crosses paths with Wolverine, played by the returning Hugh Jackman. The pair will have to overcome their differences to defeat a common enemy.
Deadpool & Wolverine will be released on 25th July 2024.
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Authors
Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.
