One of the most talented actors working today, Ryan Reynolds began his career as a lead in a Canadian teen soap opera. Through perseverance and hard work, the actor was able to create a devoted fan base that also includes DC co-chief James Gunn. In addition to portraying some of the most memorable characters on screen, Reynolds’ personality also adds to his overall charm.
Reynolds made his feature film debut as Wade Wilson, also known as Deadpool, in Tim Miller’s 2016 film Deadpool, which was written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The film was a spin-off of the X-Men film series and the ninth overall. It was well received by both reviewers and the general public, instantly making Reynolds a fan favorite. James Gunn revealed his opinions on Deadpool.
James Gunn admits Deadpool starring Ryan Reynolds is his favorite comic book movie
Director James Gunn, who is famously known for his exceptional work in making Marvel’s beloved Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, was hired by Warner Bros. to be co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran. The two of them are currently in the works on creating their own DC Universe and bringing the DCEU to an end.
In an interview with GQ back in May, James Gunn was asked about his favorite comic book movies and he said,
“I’m gonna go with Deadpool. The first Deadpool and the second Deadpool, actually, are two of my favorite comic book movies. They came on the heels of the Guardians film. They were even more of, you know, comedies in the Guardians films are, and they were so well-made, so heartfelt and fun, and Ryan Reynolds just kills it. “
The director also praised the movie for being a faithful adaptation of a comic book, as he explained,
“Because the comic book is very much tongue-in-cheek, very much breaking-the-fourth-wall all the time, talking to the audience, and I think the movie does that really well, but somehow also keeps it more grounded and gives it a little bit more heart than the comics have.”
Gunn seems to be impressed with the way Deadpool movies have turned out on-screen and the audience agrees.
Also read: Kevin Feige Had to Save James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy – Marvel Wanted it to Fail
James Gunn praises Ryan Reynolds for starring as Deadpool
During his conversation with GQ, the director went ahead to praise Ryan Reynolds, adding that he’s a funny guy and noted,
“I think, along with Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man or Christopher Reeve as Superman, he’s one of the all-time great comic book, you know, icons.”
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh JackmanRyan Reynolds recently took to his social media to share a picture of him alongside Hugh Jackman who is going to star with him in the third and much-awaited installment of Deadpool. The SAG-AFTRA strike which halted the filming of the movie has now come to a conclusion, which is a good sign as the actors prepare to go back to work and finish off their pending projects, including Deadpool 3 for Jackman and Reynolds.
The actor noted that the movie which was originally scheduled to release on May 3rd, 2024 will be going for a July 26th, 2024 release. Deadpool 3 is being directed by Shawn Levy who, according to THR, is planning to resume filming in London in the next two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What did James Gunn say about Ryan Reynolds?
In a May GQ interview about his favorite comic book movies, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn named the first two Deadpool films among his favorites and called star Ryan Reynolds one of the “all-time great comic book” icons, placing him alongside Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Christopher Reeve as Superman. Gunn praised the Deadpool films as well-made, heartfelt, and fun, and said they faithfully captured the comic’s tongue-in-cheek, fourth-wall-breaking spirit while adding more grounding and heart.
Isn’t it unusual for a DC boss to praise a Marvel character like Deadpool?
It is a notable crossover endorsement. James Gunn co-leads DC Studios with Peter Safran, while Deadpool is a Marvel/X-Men property (Reynolds first played Wade Wilson in Tim Miller’s 2016 Deadpool, written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick). But Gunn previously directed Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films, and in the GQ interview he was simply naming his personal favorite comic book movies, regardless of which studio owns the character.
Who did James Gunn compare Ryan Reynolds to?
Gunn ranked Reynolds among the greatest comic book performers ever, naming Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Christopher Reeve as Superman in the same breath. He framed Reynolds’ Deadpool as belonging in that company of definitive, all-time-great comic book icons, while also noting that Reynolds is a genuinely funny guy who “just kills it” in the role.
