Ryan Reynolds Reveals the Challenges of Writing Wolverine’s Dialogue for Deadpool & Wolverine
The highly anticipated film Deadpool & Wolverine, which brings together Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, would have been enough to draw audiences in. However, the reality of Jackman’s return to the role of Wolverine sent shockwaves among Marvel fans. In an interview with IndieWire, Reynolds shared his thoughts on writing Wolverine’s dialogue, stating that it was a “terrifying process.”
According to Reynolds, Jackman devoured the script and delivered a powerful performance, particularly in a memorable scene where Wolverine gives Deadpool a harsh reality check. Reynolds praised Jackman’s ability to bring depth and nuance to the character, saying, “He took that monologue and just devoured it. He chewed it, swallowed it, and delivered for us… and at the end, there’s a stage direction at the bottom that briefly says after he finishes that whole speech, ‘a flicker of regret crosses his pupil.’ And Hugh, in the scene, if you watch it, there is the tiniest little feeling of ‘I went too far,’ and if you blinked, you would have missed it. I get goosebumps even thinking about it, because it was an actor who is so in tune with his instrument and himself. I get to sit there, wearing a mask.”
Reynolds also discussed the challenges of writing for Wolverine, a character he describes as “very Clint Eastwood.” He noted that Wolverine’s “less is more” approach made it difficult to get into the character’s head, but ultimately, the result was worth it. Reynolds revealed that the writers spent hours reworking the script until it felt like Logan’s voice and dimension.
The dialogue between Deadpool and Wolverine, particularly in the Honda Odyssey scene, was a key aspect of the film. Reynolds explained that the team wanted to create a sense of tension and unease, and that Wolverine’s character plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. “He’s a guy who can’t control his rage,” Reynolds said. “He doesn’t just kill the bad guys. When he goes into that state, he kills good guys too. And that is like a sickness for him. The suit, we wrote it as a hair shirt, or a penance, or this thing that he carries with him out of shame.”
Despite being a different type of character from Deadpool, Wolverine’s presence in the film adds a new layer of depth and complexity. Reynolds’ comments demonstrate the effort the writers put into making Logan’s character distinctive and authentic. The result is a film that showcases Jackman’s ability to bring nuance and emotion to the role, making the multiverse variant easy to root for.
The writing process for Deadpool & Wolverine was a challenging but rewarding experience, and the end result is a film that has captivated audiences. With Reynolds’ focus on making Logan’s character distinctive, the outcome is a successful balance between nostalgia and growth, making the film stand out as a standout in the Marvel universe.