Deadpool and Wolverine is conquering the world and Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman We are reflecting a little.
Ahead of the film’s release, they chatted with Blavity’s Shadow and Act alongside director Shawn Levy, executive producer Wendy Jacobson, and co-stars Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, and Rob Delaney.
Below is part of our conversation with Reynolds and Jackman:
One of the things I really love is the moment where Wade says, “I want my life to matter and I want it to matter to the people who love me the most.” For the two of you who are in this industry, I want to know what was the project that really made you feel like what I’m doing as an actor matters.
Ryan Reynolds:Oh, that’s a very good question.
Oh, I got my therapy from this, folks.
Reynolds: Just a solid left hook, right after the bell.
JackmanI will say that this character… has defined my career. It was the first movie I ever did in America and I’ve been playing it for 25 years. I’ve met people all over the world who have named their children Logan. I’m not saying it’s because of me, but I think that character touches people and this world that he inhabits touches people, that yes, there are wishes fulfilled. It would be great to have grit and healing ability, but ultimately, it’s the human side of these characters that people relate to and touch them in different ways. Yeah, I’ve seen that really have an impact.
Reynolds:I think Clark Kent is the most interesting part of Superman, really. I think that’s what makes him interesting. I think people, everyone, have an inexhaustible supply and a longing to impress the people they love and mean something to the people they love, because I think deep down in our hearts we know that everything else is kind of an illusion and it’s going to go away. What’s the problem? Denzel once said it on a show. He said, “You don’t see the moving truck buried with the person.” All of their worldly possessions don’t go with them. So I think we all want to leave something that’s important to people and that’s an easy thing to write, and it’s certainly an easy thing to play, especially for anyone who has a family that means something to them.
But also, what I find interesting about both characters is that they feel burdened by not being able to overcome their past mistakes, and they are not able to really move forward. It haunts them.
Jackman: You got it.
Reynolds: Yeah, they deal with shame in different ways. Well, they deal with shame in very different ways, but they have more in common than they do differences. Deadpool deals with shame through deflection, humor, modesty, blah-blah-blah, constant talking, and he deals with violence and aggression without batting an eyelid. I think they’re both equally toxic and horrendous at times. It’s interesting to see these characters have to let go of that facade and actually deal with things.
But I like that you both have careers where you deal with the knocks, the wins and the losses, and I really want to know how you’ve learned to deal with them. Unlike your characters, how have you learned to deal with them and move on?
Jackman: Keep creating things. It’s important to have the courage to look at what you’ve done that maybe hasn’t worked, see where you could do better and understand, I guess, but I can have a tendency to overthink and beat myself up. I’ve learned over the years to think, “Well, that might not have been my best moment. How can I do better?” and to keep creating, to keep moving forward and not get stuck in the past because that can erode your confidence.
Reynolds: Yeah, I think… I don’t know. Every horrible mistake I’ve made in my life has led to something great, even if it’s just a piece of knowledge. Even if it’s just something like, oh, I feel so ashamed of myself for that. I need to know more about why I made that decision and how I can move forward and make sure that not only do I not repeat that mistake, but that someone else… I think all of that stuff is great. So yeah, nobody talks about failures. That’s the fucking flour in the cake, man. That’s how it’s done. We’re raised to pat ourselves on the back and in the culture of social media and Instagram where everything is perfect and wonderful, but fuck, mistakes are where good things happen, I think.
Deadpool and Wolverine It’s already in theaters.
(tags to translate)Ryan Reynolds
