After years of speculating, in 2022, Marvel Studios confirmed that Deadpool would officially join the MCU for a third installment of the R-rated comic book franchise at the start of Phase Six, Deadpool & Wolverine. This would mark the first official character of the Fox X-Men universe joining the MCU (although Patrick Stewart as a variant Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness kinda counts too, we suppose).

In a post on his Instagram story, Ryan Reynolds also gave us a closer look at Cassandra Nova’s sling ring. It looks like two infinity stones, the Time Stone and the Reality Stone, might be appended to it. We guess we’ll have to wait and see just how that works.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s latest teaser trailer brings yet another new Deadpool into the mix. This time it’s Lady Deadpool.

We can’t wait to find out who will be playing this red-clad gal. Additionally, Cowboy Deadpool also makes an appearance.

Here is everything we know so far about Deadpool & Wolverine.

Title

Thanks to a Super Bowl trailer (check it out below!), we know that this film, formerly called Deadpool 3, is actually Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Plot

The plot of Deadpool & Wolverine remains a mystery. All we know is that Hugh Jackman is returning as Wolverine, and that it takes place before the feral X-Man’s death in Logan. In fact, Jackman has confirmed that time travel will be involved in the threequel in a big way.

While originally, Deadpool & Wolverine was called Deadpool 3, director Shawn Levy wants to make sure fans understand that the title change is not just cosmetic. Levy notes to Screen Rant:

As far as crafting the Deadpool & Wolverine story, I just felt privileged every day because you’re talking about two massive movie stars in their most iconic roles. It also gave me an opportunity. It’s the third Deadpool movie, but it’s not Deadpool 3. It’s a different thing that’s very much Deadpool and Wolverine. And it’s not trying to copycat anything from the first two movies. They were awesome, but this is a two-hander character adventure.

As most folks know by now, Deadpool’s third solo film will reunite him with his X-Men Origins: Wolverine co-star. Deadpool and Wolverine will work together, although they have made it very clear that these two characters “hate each other.” It will not be a love-fest in this story. But the fact that Deadpool & Wolverine is smack in the middle of the Multiverse Saga should give us all a clue as to what’s going to go down, and probable multiversal shenanigans will ensue.

Dogpool, of course, will also star.

Make sure to follow him on Instagram.

We also now know what Deadpool & Wolverine‘s new official logo looks like thanks to a fun poster.

Deadpool & Wolverine will, of course, be the first R-rated movie in the MCU. And that means it’s not pulling any punches. In fact, its latest official synopsis drops two F-bombs. Let’s take a look:

Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date—Deadpool & Wolverine. A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctantlier… reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to—Fuck. Synopses are so fucking stupid.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Cast

We know Hugh Jackman will return, along with the very obvious Ryan Reynolds. Here’s who else we know about: Karan Soni, cab driver Dopinder, Leslie Uggams, Emma Corrin, and Matthew Macfadyen. In exciting news, Morena Baccarin and Stefan Kapicic are reprising their roles as Vanessa and Colossus in Deadpool & Wolverine. So are Rob Delaney’s Peter, Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead), and Shioli Kutsuna (Yukio). Jennifer Garner’s Elektra from the 2003 Daredevil Marvel Fox movie is also reported to reprise her role in this MCU film.

Behind the Scenes

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s director for this third outing will be Shawn Levy, most recently known for his work on Stranger Things. This would be a reunion for Levy and Reynolds, as the pair previously worked together on the movie Free Guy. Levy is also known for the time travel movie The Adam Project.

On the writing side of things are Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, writers for the popular animated series Bob’s Burgers. The writers for the first two Deadpool films, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, are also contributing to movie number three’s screenplay, as is Ryan Reynolds himself.

Deadpool & Wolverine Release Date

Deadpool & Wolverine will arrive on July 26, 2024.

Originally published on January 4, 2023.

The post Are Those Infinity Stones on Cassandra Nova’s Sling Ring From DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE? appeared first on Nerdist.

Deadpool & Wolverine is almost here, and the fandom couldn’t be more excited to see “Marvel Jesus” and his adamantium-boned buddy team up at last. While we still don’t know many things about the film, the trailers have given us some rather large clues as to the plot. And we think those clues hint strongly that Deadpool & Wolverine will lead directly into Avengers: Secret Wars, the final chapter of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. What we do know is that Logan and Wade are trapped together in Void, the repository of dead timelines first seen in Loki. We also know that they’re fighting X-Men villain Cassandra Nova.

In that Mad Max-esque Void, there are several known mutants from the X-Men films, like Pyro and Sabretooth. This is the first MCU project that officially canonized the Fox X-Men films as part of the larger cosmology, much as Spider-Man: No Way Home did for the pre-Tom Holland Spidey films. So we think it’s all leading up to a classic X-Men reunion, probably fighting the Avengers in Secret Wars. One thing we feel confident in saying about any of these Multiversal mutants coming our way is that the Wolverine from Logan definitely won’t be resurrected.

Deadpool & Wolverine to Feature Zombie Logan? Probably Not

Marvel Studios is leaning hard into the Multiverse right now. Therefore, we know that Jackman’s arrival means they are not going to undo Wolverine’s death in Logan. As it stands, that movie felt disconnected and in its own universe, even from the original X-Men films. After all, the events of Logan don’t really line up with the restored future we saw at the end of Days of Future Past. So with the Multiverse Saga in play now, we think that Logan can remain its own thing. Whatever version of Wolverine we see in Deadpool & Wolverine definitely won’t be the same one who died in Logan. They won’t dig him up and Frankenstein him back to life, so to speak. We think the integrity of James Mangold’s film is safe.

A Deadpool and Wolverine Road Trip?!

In the past, Ryan Reynolds has said that his original plans for Deadpool & Wolverine involved a “Rashomon-style road trip with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.” We feel that is probably still the case, only with a Multiversal bent this time. One particular scene in the trailer of Logan and Wade jumping through a mystical portal, very similar to that of Doctor Strange’s portal, suggests it is. To us, that indicates they’ll be reality-hopping together, at least part of the time. We honestly believe that with Hugh Jackman coming back for Deadpool & Wolverine, he’ll stick around for one more outing afterward, and it’ll be Avengers: Secret Wars. And maybe he will bring some of his fellow X-Men with him.

Deadpool & Wolverine Will Lead to an X-Men Reunion

Problematic director aside, the original X-Men films still matter. Their success paved the way for Spider-Man and eventually the entire MCU. And Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige himself has a bit of a sentimental soft spot for the first X-Men movies. They were his first on-screen credits in a Marvel film after all. That’s why he included Patrick Stewart in Multiverse of Madness, and Kelsey Grammer’s Beast in The Marvels. Those films started him on the path that led him to become head of Marvel Studios. So before the inevitable reboot of Marvel’s mutants, which is on the horizon, he might want to pay homage to the ones who started it all. It’s just a question of which X-Men make the cut. We know several confirmed secondary mutants already. If they’re in this, some of the main team must be coming our way, too.

Is Deadpool & Wolverine a Prelude to Avengers: Secret Wars?

If the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars follows the comics in even the smallest way, it will see the introduction of Battleworld. In the comics, that was a patchwork planet made out of the remains of several realities. But each of those realities became slightly different (or sometimes very different) when merging into Battleworld. So one of those realities could be a version of the Fox X-Men universe. It doesn’t even have to follow the continuity (such as it is) of the Fox X-Men films, because they have recreated it as something new. As we stated, we know that a good chunk of the film takes place in the Void from Loki, the repository world of dead realities. Could the Void simply become Battleworld in Secret Wars?

Given all that, we could still get the original actors back in their roles. Meaning we could get a proper send-off for not only Hugh Jackman, but also Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, James Marsden, Famke Janssen, Kelsey Grammer, and Patrick Stewart. He recently hinted broadly as to his return. We think he knows something he’s not sharing with the rest of the class (of Xavier’s School).

Could We See Costumed X-Men at Long Last?

Kevin Feige was one of the few true Marvel Comics fans on the set of X-Men, according to Hugh Jackman. In fact, Jackman has said in interviews that Feige snuck him Wolverine comics to his trailer, on the sly, as comic books were forbidden on set. And he also fixed Logan’s hair to be more comics-accurate. Now that he’s in charge of the whole enchilada, we knew he couldn’t resist finally putting Jackman in a comics-accurate costume. So if any of the other original X-Men show up, we think this holds true for them as well. Imagine if we see the 2000s cast, flying into action as the X-Men: The Animated Series theme plays? We’re losing our minds over it already.

Now, maybe Jackman’s return to play Wolverine really is “one last time.” But given his comments in the past about how fun it would be to be part of the MCU someday, we have a feeling that Deadpool & Wolverine is almost certainly not the end quite yet. And the X-Men might stand next to the Avengers and the Fantastic Four in battle before it’s all said and done.

Originally published on September 28, 2022.

The post Will DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Lead to Classic X-Men in AVENGERS: SECRET WARS? appeared first on Nerdist.

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have had great ventures together. We’ve seen them unfold on the popular series Welcome to Wrexham. And now, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘s Rob McElhenney will join Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine. In the latest episode of Welcome to Wrexham, which we saw via The News, Reynolds revealed, “Because of my busy schedule, I had to invite my cochair, Rob McElhenney, to the set of Deadpool in London to discuss all things that are Wrexham… And, yes, I did have to promise him a role in the upcoming Deadpool film. Now, I can’t necessarily tell you which character Rob plays in Deadpool for fear of being shot down by the Marvel drone that follows me and my kids around.” Deadpool & Wolverine is slated to have many cameos, and we can now count McElhenney in their number.

In the episode, Rob McElhenney couldn’t reveal his outfit because it would be a tease of his Deadpool & Wolverine role. “It’s super comfortable making superhero movies,” McElhenney noted. To which Reynolds snarked, “Thanks for doing a cameo. … For the record, Rob has never asked me to be on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia or Mythic Quest or his podcast or any of his other multimedia ventures.”

But what role will McElhenney actually play in Deadpool & Wolverine? That remains a mystery. Although, we might be inclined to say a TVA agent.

The post Rob McElhenney Will Cameo in DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, Reveals Ryan Reynolds appeared first on Nerdist.

If we had to predict what Deadpool & Wolverine‘s box office total will look like we’d guess “all the money.” How close will we get with that prognostication? We’re about to start finding out, because tickets for Deadpool & Wolverine have now gone on sale. And Marvel Studios celebrated its big multiversal pre-sale with a new promo and a new poster for the highly-anticipated movie.

Deadpool & Wolverine tickets are now officially on sale everywhere movie tickets are sold. That’s one big step closer to letting fans see the oozing sexual chemistry between Wade and Logan. Another is this new teaser for the film, which actually reveals there’s slightly less sexual chemistry than we thought. (Though definitely not zero!)

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s new poster does confirm there’s still plenty of animosity between the two, though.

Yeah, we’re sticking with “all the money.” And it’s a good bet on our end. Fandango has revealed that “Deadpool & Wolverine has broken Fandango’s best first-day ticket sales record for 2024. The film is also the best first-day pre-seller from the Deadpool franchise, surpassing the first day of ticket sales for Deadpool and Deadpool 2.”

Additionally, AMC’s CEO revealed that Deadpool & Wolverine has sold more day one tickets than any other R-rated movie in AMC’s history.

There you have it. Deadpool & Wolverine releases on July 26, so snag your tickets today.

Originally published on May 20, 2024.

The post DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Tickets Are Now on Sale, Movie Shares New Trailer and Poster appeared first on Nerdist.

Hugh Jackman? More like Hugh Backman. Back as Logan, that is. And when he returns he’ll help his buddy Wade Wilson do more than save a universe or two. He’ll help Wade set a personal onscreen record. Deadpool & Wolverine‘s listing from AMC Theaters says it will have a runtime of two hours and seven minutes. That unofficial length would mean it’s the Merc With a Mouth’s longest movie entry yet.

AMC Theaters now has an official page (which we first learned about at Collider) for Deadpool & Wolverine. It states the film clocks in at 127 minutes. (Great length! No notes!) That exceeds both the 1:48 length (108 minutes) of 2016’s Deadpool and the 1:59 runtime (119 minutes) for Deadpool 2. That extra space should allow for even more MCU and Fox X-Men era surprise cameos.

But we’ll also be fine if it just means more of Deadpool and Wolverine.

The post DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Has Longest Deadpool Movie Runtime Yet appeared first on Nerdist.

You know you’re a true comic book superstar when there are endless variations of you out there. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, they’ve all got multiple versions of themselves running around. Although Deadpool has not been around nearly as long as those previously mentioned icons, he already has a ton of “other Deadpools” out in the wild. There’s Kidpool, Lady Deadpool, and yes, Dogpool. And as the name suggests, he’s Deadpool, just as a canine. Thanks to Ryan Reynolds’ Instagram posts, we know “The Merc with the Bark” is going to appear in Deadpool 3. But what is the actual Marvel Comics history of Dogpool? Or as Deadpool loves to call him, “Cujo.” We’re here to explain it all.

The Marvel Comics Origins of Dogpool

Like Alligator Loki and Spider-Ham before him, Dogpool continues a proud tradition of animal versions of famous Marvel heroes. As far as animal doppelgänger characters in the Marvel Universe go, Dogpool is a relatively recent addition. He first appeared in Prelude to Deadpool Corps #3 in 2010, and then died tragically in Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1 back in 2013. The pooch known as Dogpool hailed from Earth-103173, and was known as Wilson, just like the Wade Wilson of Earth-616 we all know and love. In his world, Wilson was the guinea pig test subject for a brand called Mascara X, intended to be makeup that would always replenish itself after just one use. Of course, “Mascara X” is a spoof on “Weapon X,” where Wade Wilson (and Wolverine) got their powers.

Just like the Deadpool we all know, Wilson gained healing powers. And also like human Wade, they hideously disfigured him as a result. The amoral Babeline Cosmetics company didn’t realize the tests gave Wilson powers, and they threw the poor doggo into the dumpster. Depressed by his state, and the rejection he received from all who looked at his ugly mug, Wilson tried to end it all by throwing himself in front of a moving vehicle. But he survived and healed instantly. A circus truck passed by and saw the miraculous self-healing dog, and so Wilson joined their circus. They rechristened him as Deadpool, “the Death Defying Hound.” He was part of this circus, and almost killed by a dog Wolverine. Until the human Wade Wilson came to his Earth to recruit him into the Deadpool Corps, that is.

Dogpool Joins the Deadpool Corps and Promptly Dies

So what is the Deadpool Corps, you might ask? Well, much like the Thor Corps, it’s an army made of different multiversal variants of Wade Wilson. The 616 Deadpool actually founded the team, to save reality from a powerful cosmic being, the Awareness. The Awareness had one goal—to devour the consciousness of the Multiverse itself. They recruited Dogpool, who formed a close bond with Kidpool. Later, once the Awareness threat ended, Wade Wilson had to gather the Deadpool Corps once again, to fight the Dreadpool Corps, made up of evil Deadpools from across the multiverse. It was during this event that Dogpool came to Earth-616 to warn our version of Wade. When an evil Deadpool tried to kill the 616 version, Dogpool heroically gave his life to save him. During his brief time on this Earth (and a few others) Dogpool made a lasting impression.

Dogpool in Deadpool 3 and in the MCU

So how will Dogpool fit into the overall story of Deadpool 3? Well, we already know the multiverse is playing a big part in the upcoming film. And rumors suggest we’ll be seeing Kidpool, and maybe even the entire Deadpool Corps. And you can’t have the Deadpool Corps without at least one appearance from Dogpool.

In a recent interview with Empire, Reynolds shares of the pup, “It’s love at first sight…He loves Dogpool.” And offers, “Her real name is Peggy, and she won the award for Britain’s Ugliest Dog. The reason why I was a huge proponent for her was because she feels like the animal manifestation of Wade Wilson. It was, just like many things during the writing process, a tiny little afterthought, and it grew. It was one of those things where you just keep listening to the movie, and Dogpool became a staple.” But, of course, Dogpool is still a Deadpool. Reynolds concludes, “Dogpool’s a Pool, so probably has some moral flexibility about where she wees and poops.”

Maybe it’ll be a brief cameo, or maybe Dogpool will tag along with Wade for most of the movie. We just know that he looks like a very good boy (although a bit mangy) and we can’t wait to see him up on the big screen when Deadpool 3 hits theaters on July 26, 2024.

Originally published on December 29, 2023.

The post Who Is DEADPOOL 3’s Dogpool? Marvel’s Mutant Mutt, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

Wolverine first appeared in 1974’s Incredible Hulk #181 and Deadpool didn’t pop up in Marvel Comics until New Mutants #98 in 1991; however, the two characters are inextricably linked. Mostly, because even though their temperaments are polar opposites, Deadpool and Wolverine’s histories are very similar. The Weapon X project experimented on both of them. Wolverine was given his adamantium skeleton by the shadowy group, and Deadpool had Wolverine’s own healing factor grafted onto his DNA while battling cancer by Weapon X. But in most ways, this is where the similarities end. Let’s dive into Wolverine and Deadpool’s strange relationship and history, both in and outside of Marvel comics, before Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters in July.

Wolverine and Deadpool’s First Comics Together in the Marvel Universe

In the regular Marvel Comics continuity, Wolverine and Deadpool first met in 1994’s Wolverine #88. That issue saw Deadpool trashing an apartment after failing to get his girlfriend back from her new guy, Garrison Kane. This brought Wolverine into the picture, as Kane was his buddy. After trading the usual verbal jabs, then came the actual jabs, with Wade stabbing Logan through the chest with his two swords. And that set the tone for Wolverine and Deadpool’s entire relationship in Marvel Comics—insulting each other, stabbing one another, getting back up again, and doing it all over again. Rinse, wash, and repeat.

But although Wolverine and Deadpool met for the first time in Wolverine #88, it’s also worth noting they briefly shared the comic page a year before the issue was published. In 1993’s Toys R Us X-Men Premium Edition, the X-Men encounter Deadpool for the first time. Logan and Wade don’t actually fight or talk, but they do share a big group panel together. So it kinda, sorta counts as Deadpool and Wolverine’s first comic book meeting.

Despite these temporal truths, years later retcons to Marvel’s universe determined that Wolverine and Deadpool had met much earlier than that, in-universe at least. In 2008, Marvel revealed a new history for Deadpool and Wolverine. The pair’s first fight actually happened when the Winter Soldier, still a brainwashed Hydra agent, hired Wade to take out Logan. This was all in an effort to draw out Daken, Wolverine’s son, who ultimately saved him. This occurred in 2008’s Wolverine Origins story “Deep End.”

The Best Wolverine and Deadpool Comics to Read in Order to Understand the Pair’s History

Deadpool and Wolverine have alternately fought and then teamed up in several comics over the past three decades, which makes for one interesting trip down comics’ history lane. In one infamous fight in 1999’s Deadpool #27, Wade fought Logan as a form of therapy for depression. The Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan mini-series, meanwhile, found Wade Wilson getting into it with the cranky gray-haired version of Logan. In Wolverine/Deadpool: The Decoy, a two-faced killer robot from space wanted to kill Jean Grey for all of her Phoenix shenanigans. Since she was dead (at that time), Wolverine dressed up Deadpool as Jean Grey as a distraction until he defeated the killer robot. In Uncanny X-Force, the pair were true teammates at last. However, even with this new relationship, Wolverine and Deadpool still butt heads constantly.

Friends? Enemies? What Is Wolverine and Deadpool’s Relationship in the Marvel Comics?

Wolverine and Deadpool were what we call “frenemies.” Sometimes they were literally trying to murder each other, and other times they seemed like best buds. Their first meetings were definitely adversarial, as seen in almost all their encounters in the ‘90s. By 1999, the pair fought a group of werewolves together, calling a truce. At the end of that story, Deadpool and Wolverine bonded over their mutual tortures at the hands of the Weapon X program and shared a beer. This was the start of an awkward friendship. Eventually, Logan invited Wade to join X-Force and, for the first time, Deadpool and Wolverine were officially teammates. But they still came to blows sometimes. We’ll likely see this dynamic come to life in the MCU’s Deadpool & Wolverine.

Who Would Win in a Fight, Wolverine or Deadpool?

With over a century and a half of his life and training behind him, Wolverine is likely the better fighter than Deadpool. Although the two have fought numerous times, it almost always ended in a stalemate. Wade Wilson’s healing factor may have been derived from Logan’s DNA, but he had a leg up on the adamantium-clawed mutant. Deadpool literally can’t die. Wade was cursed by Thanos with immortality because the Mad Titan was jealous of Deadpool’s relationship with his beloved entity of Death. So although Logan’s healing factor made it very hard to kill him, Wolverine could actually die. Deadpool, not so much.

Can Deadpool Kill Wolverine in the Marvel Universe?

In the 2012 alternate timeline mini-series Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, by writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dalibor Talajic, Marvel Comics finally showed a version of Wade Wilson who managed to kill Wolverine. Taking place on an alternate Earth in the multiverse, this comic featured a supervillain brainwashed Deadpool, who killed every known Avenger and X-Man. Only Wolverine was left standing at the end. Not for long though, as Deadpool found a way to kill Wolverine in this Marvel reality. In this story however, he needed a carbonadium sword to do it, as that metal is the only one on Earth that can nullify Logan’s healing factor. So yes, Deadpool could kill Wolverine. He just needs a little carbonadium help.

Who Heals Faster, Wolverine or Deadpool? Their Healing Factors Compared

Deadpool got his powers when Department K infused him with Wolverine’s mutant DNA. Yet his healing factor was ultimately superior to Logan’s. Wolverine’s healing factor can’t regrow lost limbs, for example. Deadpool’s healing factor allows him to regrow any lost and severed limb. Deadpool’s healing factor will even allow him to regrow his head. Wolverine’s wounds do heal, but his powers stop short of recreating actually lost cells out of thin air. Deadpool has the superior healing factor in this regard. Probably much to Wolverine’s annoyance—we bet it’s a sore spot in their relationship.

Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Ryan Reynolds’ first appearance as Deadpool actually came in the much-derided X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009. In that continuity, Wade Wilson was a mercenary with a metric ton of confirmed kills. He’s still a wisecracking motormouth, at least, at first. But unlike in Marvel Comics, Deadpool is a mutant fast enough to deflect bullets with swords. In the comics, he was born without the X-gene. But in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Deadpool was recruited into William Stryker’s mercenary Team X, along with Logan, and was eventually used by the Weapon X program as an experiment. Stryker infused his body with the DNA of several mutants, making him an undefeatable “mutant killer.” But he had his mouth sewn shut, so the famously talkative character became strangely mute. Let’s just say… the fans hated it.

Wolverine and Deadpool fought on Three Mile Island, but Logan defeated him. But we later saw that Deadpool’s severed head was still alive, and he winked at the camera. Luckily, X-Men: Days of Future Past rebooted the X-Men movie universe timeline, allowing the 2016 Deadpool to be closer to the comics. At the end of Deadpool 2, using Cable’s time travel device, Wade ventures into the events of X-Men Origins, shooting the previous Deadpool in the head. We have a strong feeling those time-travel shenanigans will play a part in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Hugh Jackman’s Logan Will Fight Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds will meet again for the very first time in Deadpool & Wolverine. From what the trailers tell us, it looks like the Time Variance Authority sends Deadpool to a universe where Logan failed the X-Men in some significant way, almost certainly leading to their deaths. Logan’s drowning his sorrows in a bar when Deadpool shows up to recruit him on a mission to save his own universe—possibly from being deleted entirely.

The pair then end up in the Void, the reality where the TVA dumps the remnants of pruned timelines. We know that after they fight each other, they fight Cassandra Nova, Charles Xavier’s evil twin. Aside from those facts, we know Logan and Deadpool will slice, stab, kick, and punch each other. Regardless of where they are in the multiverse, some things remain constant as their ongoing history and relationship continues to unfold. We can’t wait to see Deadpool and Wolverine, confirmed frenemies, take on the MCU.

Originally published on July 18, 2023.

The post The Complete History of Logan and Wade Wilson’s Rivalry, From Marvel Comics to DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE appeared first on Nerdist.

Logan is dead. Long live Wolverine. Hugh Jackman’s iconic big-screen character is truly back—rather than just his shadow—in the newest trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine. Only, he’s not the hero we remembered. Deadpool & Wolverine brings us a very different Wolverine than the one we once knew. He’s a failure. But his foul-mouthed friend wants to give him a shot at redemption. Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool needs to save his world, and he needs Logan to do that.

This definitely ain’t your grandma’s Disney. Or your mom’s. Or, you know, anyone’s. The MCU’s first R-rated film is here to do anything it wants. Well, anything it wants except cocaine. According to its trailer, that’s apparently the line Deadpool & Wolverine can’t cross, per Kevin Feige. That lack of “disco dust” doesn’t look like it’s going to stop Deadpool and Wolverine from having a hell of a good time together, though.

This Deadpool & Wolverine trailer is full of movie references (Fury Road!) and action. It’s also our first real look at Emma Corrin’s terrifying villain, Cassandra Nova. But most importantly this trailer offers our first insight into the actual plot, which will see Deadpool recruit a Wolverine Variant to help him save his dimension.

The trailer even brings us some of the surprise Deadpool & Wolverine cameos we’re expecting to see. But it does leave space for many, many more. Who created that sorcerer portal the two jumped through? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Deadpool & Wolverine comes from Stranger Things‘ Shawn Levy. The movie will mark his third time directing Ryan Reynolds (Free Guy, The Adam Project). While Levy has said this film is not Deadpool 3, it still features many returning stars from the previous two Deadpool entries. Those back for more f***ing fun include Karan Soni, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapičić, Brianna Hildebrand, Leslie Uggams, Rob Delaney, and Shioli Kutsuna. Matthew Macfadyen is also joining the fray as a new TVA agent.

Deadpool & Wolverine join forces—one a little more reluctantly than the other—this summer on July 26, 2024. Long live friendship. And hopefully Wade’s world.

The post DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Recruits a Reluctant Logan in New Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Have you made some time for your Imaginary Friend today? If not, they might be in peril. At least according to Ryan Reynolds and John Krasinski’s new movie, IF. Why IF as a title. Well, as the IF trailer explains, it’s short for “Imaginary Friend.” And apparently, all our Imaginary Friends are quite proud of that acronym. We imagine there’s also a less literal interpretation because IF invites you to ask. “What If?” What if all your Imaginary Friends were actually real and really missing you right now? Well, luckily for them, they have Ryan Reynolds and his movie-daughter on the case to save the day.

You can take a look at the IF trailer below and immerse yourself in this fantastical world of cute but cooky creations.

We also really dig this Super Bowl (a.k.a. Big Game) Spot with Randall Park pretending to be John Krasinski while Ryan Reynolds looks on in confusion. We love an ode to The Office. Its yet another fun clip to amp up the excitement for this film.

Okay, I can’t be the only person in the world who had a humanoid imaginary friend, right? But we guess we understand why this movie leans into very cartoonish childish creations that are at once adorable but kind of creepy. This is really giving Monsters Inc. in a way. In the IF trailer we see everything from a toasted marshmallow on its last breaths to a walking and talking teddy bear (thankfully not of the horror variety), to dragons, sentient bananas, and dancing sunflowers, oh my. This movie really had fun with its imaginary friends. And hopefully, we’ll have fun watching it.

Alongside the trailer, IF shared its official synopsis which notes:

From writer and director John Krasinski, IF is about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends — and what she does with that superpower — as she embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids. IF stars Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Cailey Fleming, Fiona Shaw, and the voices of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. and Steve Carell alongside many more as the wonderfully unique characters that reflect the incredible power of a child’s imagination.

But we prefer Ryan Reynolds’ rendition of the movie’s elevator pitch, “Get ready for a heart-warming, all-family film from the director of A Quiet Place, the star of Deadpool, and the studio that brought you Annihilation.” Love it.

When Does Ryan Reynolds’ IF Movie Release?

IF‘s release date is May 17, 2024. So you have lots of time to connect with your imaginary friend before going to see it.

Originally published on December 14, 2023.

The post IF Big Game Spot Trailer Shows More of Ryan Reynolds Saving Everyone’s Imaginary Friends appeared first on Nerdist.

Hugh Jackman was adamant that Logan would be his final time playing Wolverine. He surely meant it when he said it. But we always know that no matter how much a performer might truly believe they are done with a character, people can always change their mind. We also know comic book superheroes never stay dead for long. Plus, he said all of that before Disney surprised everyone by buying Fox and its big screen rights to both the X-Men franchise and Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth. That’s a big reason Jackman is back doing something he swore he never would. And we finally got to see him in his iconic role during this year’s Super Bowl, which aired Marvel Studios long-awaited first trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine.

Well, we at least got to see his shadow.

“Everyone deserves a happy ending.” That’s an official tagline from Disney. Disney.

Seeing Deadpool teaming up with the Mouse House is almost as good as seeing him teaming up with Wolverine, as the first-ever rated-R MCU movie is officially on the clock. The franchise’s only 2024 big screen release (and its de facto X-Men Origins: Wolverine reunion) finally gave fans of both Deadpool and Wolverine the trailer they’ve been craving during the NFL’s championship game.

It opens with Wade and his silly wig celebrating his birthday with both the (still alive) members of Task Force X and his loved ones. But his entire world (and cinematic universe) is upended by the arrival of TVA agents. They officially bring the Merc With a Mouth into the MCU. From there he’s tasked with being a hero among heroes. He’s also among villains, as X-Men‘s Aaron Stanford shows up as a Variant of his character Pyro. He’s just one of the many Easter eggs from both franchises that pop up in this trailer.

That’s all prelude to the biggest moment, when Wolverine shows in costume after appearing earlier in the trailer from behind at a table. He finds Wade on the ground where Deadpool asks for help. Instead he gets adamantium claws. And we get the Deadpool movie we’ve always wanted.

Deadpool 3 comes from director and frequent Reynolds collaborator Shawn Levy. Bob’s Burgers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin are the duo behind the script. And the film also stars Karan Soni, Leslie Uggams, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapicic, Rob Delaney, Brianna Hildebrand, and Shioli Kutsuna.

We need to see this movie right now. Unfortunately we have to wait. The movie doesn’t arrive in f***** theaters until this summer on July 26, 2024. Will it truly mark Jackman’s last time playing Wolverine? It wouldn’t matter even if he said it will. Thankfully.

The post DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Aren’t Exactly Best Friends Just Yet in Hilarious Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Now that it’s 2024, expect the Deadpool 3 hype to go into hyperdrive. Even though we’re not halfway through January, Ryan Reynolds is already using every opportunity to remind us that the Merc with the Mouth returns this summer, with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in tow. Deadpool even appeared in the acceptance speech video for Ryan Reynolds’ show Welcome to Wrexham at the Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday, January 7. An awards show that, for some odd reason, was held the same night as the Golden Globes. You can watch the video right here:

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds‘ FX series Welcome to Wrexham racked up five wins at the 2023 Creative Arts Emmys. Among them was outstanding unstructured reality program. The acceptance speech video starts with Rob McElhenney doing the traditional “thanking everyone they’ve ever met” part. Then, Deadpool busts in (voiced, of course, by Reynolds) and does his whole shtick. He mocks the Creative Arts Emmys, and also the Golden Globes (“where the real celebrities are.”) Wade then begs the Motion Picture Academy to throw Deadpool 3 a bone next year—at least for some VFX awards. He knows the Academy would never nominate it for anything else.

As Deadpool 3 is the only MCU movie hitting this year, the pressure is on to perform well. Especially after 2023 released many misfires from Marvel Studios. But with Deadpool teaming up with a costumed-at-last Wolverine, Dogpool, and possibly several members of the X-Men, we think it’s not only going to buck recent downward trends, it will likely join the billion dollar club. And in the meantime, we’re going to see Deadpool across a lot of our screens to promote it any way he can. Deadpool 3, or whatever they end up calling the third Deadpool movie, hits theaters on July 26.

The post Deadpool Accepts Emmy for Ryan Reynolds’ WELCOME TO WREXHAM appeared first on Nerdist.

There’s a lot of excitement about Deadpool 3 for many reasons. First, it marks the return of this raunchy yet loveable character to the big screen over five years after the last film. Then there’s the excitement of Deadpool officially joining the MCU. Finally, this film is the only Marvel movie coming in 2024. We obviously live in a world where leaks and spoilers pop up all the time, so it’s not shocking that there are unofficial snapshots of Deadpool 3 during filming. There are images on the internet to the chagrin of many who don’t wish to see unofficial photos that reveal possible plot points and new characters. One very important person who wants the Deadpool 3 photo leaks to stop is Ryan Reynolds, who released a statement about it on his Instagram page. 

Here is a reader-friendly version of the statement for all:

“Surprises are part of the magic of theatrical movies. It is important for us to shoot the new Deadpool film in real, natural environments, using practical effects as opposed to making the movie indoors and digitally. Telephoto lenses continue to spoil surprises and create a difficult situation for everyone. Here’s hoping some of the websites and social channels hold back showing images before they’re ready. The film is built for audience joy—and our highest hope is to preserve as much of that magic as possible for the finished film and the big screen. Part of the reason people post spoilers is because they’re excited. I realize these aren’t real world issues and it’s firmly in the ‘good problems’ bucket. I love making this movie.”

Joy is something we all need and it is nice to go into something with fresh eyes. Knowing nothing only amps up the energy. Basically, spoilers suck for a lot of fellow fans. Ryan Reynolds makes lots of good and heartfelt points in his statement about Deadpool 3 leaks, indeed. 

But of course, we cannot count on him to be a serious person. One day after this statement, Ryan Reynolds took to X and leaked a few (fake) photos of his own. It seems that Mickey Mouse, Steve Urkel, and the Predator are now (fake) guest stars in Deadpool 3.

The actor did recently share a photo of him as Wade Wilson without that infamous mask. Yes, he still looks like an avocado or perhaps a n*tsack, depending on who you ask. The latter is even wilder with the dog licking the side of his face.

Deadpool 3 is coming our way on July 26, 2024. We know there will be plenty of wonderful clips, photos, and trailers coming in the near future. For now, this post will tell you everything you need to know about Deadpool 3.

Originally published on December 6, 2023.

The post Ryan Reynolds Asks Everyone to Stop Sharing Leaked DEADPOOL 3 Photos appeared first on Nerdist.

Celebrities are not, in fact, just like us. If you doubt that ask yourself the following: when’s the last time you celebrated your friend’s birthday by getting them a public park? How about a special cameo from Chris Pratt? The answer to both those questions is almost certainly a resounding “never.” But that’s exactly what Rob McElhenney, famous actor and co-owner of the English football club Wrexham A.F.C., got for his celebrity friend’s birthday this year. The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star also got Parks & Rec‘s Andy Dwyer to help him announce the Ryan Rodney Reynolds Memorial Park in honor of the Deadpool star’s 47th birthday.

This announcement is no joke (even if the continuing birthday prank war between these famous friends is). The Ryan Rodney Reynolds Memorial Park is a very real place planned for the town of Wrexham in Wales. That’s the home of the football club Reynolds co-owns with Rob McElhenney, the one that has its own FX docu-series, Welcome to Wrexham.

The unofficial page for the public space, called “Parks & Wrex” says the location is under development in conjunction with the Wrexham County Borough Council. Once completed, it will offer an open green space for the community to enjoy. It will also host a number of events, such as restaurant pop-ups, movie screenings, farmer’s markets, and more.

Despite this announcement coming on Reynolds’ 47th birthday, the park won’t ultimately bear his name. The park’s website says the final moniker will “probably” be “something Welsh, not Canadian.” FAIR.

It’s not yet known when the town will break ground on the park, located at the old Hippodrome location on Henblas Street, let alone when it will open. But you can already order merchandise for it. Proceeds will go towards the park’s development.

In the meantime, you can also enjoy this delightful video of McElhenney and Chris Pratt. It proves celebrities are at least a little bit like us. They all want to meet Danny DeVito, too.

The post Rob McElhenney Got Ryan Reynolds a Park (and a Chris Pratt Cameo) For His Birthday appeared first on Nerdist.

Ted Lasso has seemingly come to an end. That’s sad, but viewers still have a soccer underdog to root for on the pitch: Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds‘ Welsh soccer team, Wrexham A.F.C. The two not only bought the world’s third oldest professional football club together, they got FX to document their challenges saving both the club and the town that loves it. Now Welcome to Wrexham is ready to return for its second season. The Welcome to Wrexham docuseries’ new trailer shows that real hope means real expectations. And those come with their own set of problems. Some of which you can’t ever predict. Like how to greet the King of England when he shows up to meet your team.

McElhenney and Reynolds have seemingly already proved something to their team’s working-class town. They want to make good on their promise to reverse club’s sinking fortunes. But in season two they’ll have to lead the squad to even greener pastures if they want it to survive.

How did two Hollywood stars from North America end up shaking King Charles hand on their football club’s pitch? Here’s the show’s official synopsis for those who are just learning about Wrexham A.F.C.

In 2020, Rob and Ryan teamed up to purchase the 5th tier Red Dragons in the hopes of turning the club into an underdog story the whole world could root for. The worry? Rob and Ryan have no experience in football or working with each other. From Hollywood to Wales, from the pitch to the locker room, the front office to the pub, Welcome to Wrexham will track Rob and Ryan’s crash course in football club ownership and the inextricably connected fates of a team and a town counting on two actors to bring some serious hope and change to a community that could use it.

Win or lose, promoted or relegated, Welcome to Wrexham looks poised to once again fill that Ted Lasso-sized hole in our hearts based on this trailer. And it will do so when it returns to FX on September 12.

The post WELCOME TO WREXHAM Returns to the Pitch in Season 2 Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Disney and Deadpool are an interesting match. And many people have been eagerly following Deadpool 3 news to better understand how the Disney-owned Marvel Studios and the previously Fox Entertainment Group’s Deadpool might come together. In previous, Kevin Feige promised that Deadpool 3 would be an MCU movie and that it would remain R-rated, a first for the franchise. And now, we get our first look at this odd-couple pairing. But it comes with an even odder, more exciting couple. Welcome, Deadpool, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And in the same breath, welcome, Wolverine, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And surprise, welcome Hugh Jackman as Wolverine to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Deadpool 3.

If you’re wondering what this means for Logan and Wolverine’s big screen continuity, though, don’t worry, they have answers. Sort of.

Yep, that’s right. What starts as just a casual video from Ryan Reynolds becomes so much more. Because we are getting our MCU Wolverine, baby. And that MCU Wolverine is going to be Hugh Jackman in Deadpool 3. For so long, everyone has been asking, who will play the MCU’s Wolverine? So, of course, the MCU had to answer with the most obvious answer that no one expected to hear. We don’t know if Jackman intends to continue to be the MCU’s Wolverine, but we’ll get him for at least for one more movie. Everyone’s heads are exploding right now in a way that will surely please Deadpool.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Address the Logan/Deadpool 3 Question

We thought we saw the end of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in Logan. (As did director James Mangold.) But this is a comic book character we’re talking about, after all, which means a surprise return is not only possible, it’s expected.

We still have questions, though, about what the Greatest Adamantium Showman’s return in Deadpool 3 means for the “end” of his story. Fortunately, Reynolds and Jackman are here to help address them…in exactly the way you’d expect.

Ah, yes, that clears everything up. Logan takes place years after Deadpool 3, and they both really like Wham! (Who doesn’t!) Jackman also recently noted to Sirius XM’s Radio Andy program:

Because of this device they have in the Marvel world of moving around timelines, now we can go back, because…it’s science. And so I don’t have to screw with the Logan timeline, which was important to me, and I think probably to the fans, too.

Sounds like potential time travel is in the works. And what’s that about a device? For that answer and for answers to questions about the multiverse, the existence of mutants in Earth-616, and the million other queries we have, we’ll just have to wait.

R-Rated Deadpool and Wolverine in the MCU

In previous, Feige noted he felt excited to bring a “very different type of character [to] the MCU.” And Deadpool certainly is that, but also, he isn’t. In many ways, Wade Wilson and Ryan Reynolds both make a lot of sense in the world of the MCU. The franchise has already been pushing the envelope with entries such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This is the logical next step. There are, after all, plenty of kid-friendly options to choose from among the MCU’s many, many movies. And with High Jackman and Wolverine in the mix for Deadpool 3, we can’t wait for what’s certainly in store for us. This will no doubt also be a Wolverine like we’ve never seen him before.

Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine has appeared in an R-rated movie before. But we have a feeling Jackman’s Wolverine rendition in Logan and Deadpool 3 may feel a little different. Recently, Jackman shared more about what we could expect from the new MCU Wolverine. Will we see an angrier Logan or a gentler version of the character? Jackman responded with the obvious, saying:

“He’s definitely angrier, acerbic, grumpy, and he’s gonna take a lot of free shots at Ryan Reynolds, let me tell you… Physically, that is.” It definitely sounds like we’ll see a Wolverine that’s totally new. And that Deadpool better watch out. Reynolds recently confirmed this news, sharing with Variety, “What we pitched him was enough of a divergence from the character that he knows and the character that he’s left behind, that it gives him something completely new to play and something that he’s really excited to do.”

Additionally, Jackman recently offered more insight about the relationship between Deadpool and Wolverine in the MCU. He described the pair’s relationship to The Empire Film Podcast saying:

“10 being really close, zero being — that’s what we are, we are zero. We are opposites. Hate each other. He’s annoyed by him. Wants to be a million miles away from him or punch him in the head. So, unfortunately, he can’t be a million miles away from him in the movie, so I’m probably going to punch him in the head a lot… [They are] Polar opposites. He’s my vinegar to his sugar. He’s the fast-talking, quick-word loudmouth and my character just wants to punch him in the head.”

That’s a lot of punching, for sure.

Deadpool 3 and Phase 6 of the MCU

Jackman has said in previous that he won’t play Wolverine again and was retired from the role. But we guess the siren song of Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool, and the MCU called him back. He notes to Variety that he actually thought about it for a long time, but it took him longer to get onboard. In fact, Reynolds asked Jackman to come back as Wolverine for Deadpool 3 “on the daily” for approximately three years. And had nearly given up when Jackman finally agreed to return to the character.

As for Deadpool himself, we still don’t yet know if Deadpool will hail from a different multiverse in Deadpool 3 or if the move will explain he’s been kicking around the MCU all along, just out of sight. Either way, we are very happy to have him. And with Ryan Reynolds overseeing his long-time character, we’re confident he’s going to turn out just right. Not to mention, we can’t wait to see which of our MCU favs he (and now maybe Wolverine) eventually interact get to meet.

Deadpool 3‘s R-rated nature really does open the door to many new possibilities in the MCU. We wonder if Deadpool will remain a stand-alone R-rated arm, or whether other heroes will get to fight a little dirtier. We guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Deadpool 3, now with more Hugh Jackman Wolverine-fun, was slated to release on September 6, 2024. But now it will release on November 8, 2024. Although the MCU hasn’t said for sure, it could be that Deadpool 3 will kick off Phase 6 of the MCU, which begins with a “Fall 2024” release.

Originally published on September 27, 2022.

The post Hugh Jackman Returns as the MCU’s Wolverine in DEADPOOL 3, Coming 2024 appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s hard to overstate how much I love A Christmas Carol. (Yes, I’m aware I’m a huge dork.) Every December I reread Charles Dickens’ novella and watch as many adaptation of his iconic ghost tale as I can. I’m not a traditionalist snob, though. Scrooged is one of my favorite versions and I believe Gonzo and Rizzo are the greatest duo in the history of the world. So if anyone was primed to enjoy Spirited, Apple TV+’s original take on the classic story, it was me. Especially since I’m also a huge fan of its stars Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. Of course, all that also means I went into the film with the highest of expectations.

However, for all of the baggage I carried with me into Spirited, I was not prepared for what I saw. Because it isn’t really a movie; it’s a Broadway musical masquerading as one. That makes for a weird first viewing. But despite some obvious flaws and some mostly forgettable songs, it still works. And it works well enough I’ll be adding Spirited to my yearly A Christmas Carol movie rewatch list.

I don’t know if Spirited was originally written as a Broadway musical, but at minimum the film desperately wants to be one. It’s many grand numbers are filmed as though they’re taking place on a big stage. (And would certainly look incredible in that format.)

The choreography is fantastic and those scenes work better than most cinematic stage adaptations. The problem is that while they’re entertaining to look at, most of the songs sound like generic Broadway fare. No song is outright bad, and some are objectively good. But with the exception of one standout track (destined to become a classic), you won’t be able to hum a single note from them the second they end. I even started mentally checking out during later numbers.

It’s obviously a problem when half of a musical’s songs are instantly forgettable or downright tedious. That’s ultimately why I found myself enjoying the film more when people weren’t singing. Don’t take that as a backhanded compliment, though. The non-musical scenes mostly work from start to finish. Spirited overcomes its issues thanks to its three leads, an entertaining and fresh take on a well-known story, and its obvious admiration for the source material.

Will Ferrell manages to bring a real humanity and genuine sadness to the Ghost of Christmas Present, all while sprinkling in just enough Will Ferrell-ness to keep things fun. Meanwhile, Ryan Reynolds finds the perfect balance of smug and likability as Clint Briggs, and amoral global influencer thought unredeemable (including by himself). And in the least surprising news of all, Octavia Spencer is wonderful as Briggs’ employee who has long sacrificed her own soul for her career.

They’re not the only ones who help Spirited find success, though. The film features an amazing voice performance for the Ghost of Christmas Future. (You do NOT want that person’s identity spoiled.) The Ghost of Christmas Past also brings plenty of laughs thanks to a delightful performances by Glow‘s Sunita Mani. And the other supporting roles all add the winning mix of comedy and heart the film sets out to deliver.

Despite not understanding it’s a movie, Spirited‘s script ultimately also overcomes its identity crisis on the strength of its story. This is very much an adaptation of A Christmas Carol, but it’s unlike any other. Christmas hauntings aren’t something four ghosts do in a single night. The endeavor includes an entire division of spirits working year round to change one person. The hope is that chosen individual will then cause “ripples” of good throughout humanity. Only Brigg’s refuses to follow the script. His intransigence and need to be in control sends Ferrell’s Ghost of Christmas Present on his own journey of self-discovery and change. That leads both men to confront who they are together, though each is reluctant to do so for different reasons.

While many of the major elements of A Christmas Carol are present, the film also boasts some clever secrets. It also has one major reveal that had me thinking about A Christmas Carol lore as if I were watching an MCU movie. I suggest you don’t do that. Just enjoy this heartfelt and funny movie for what it is, even if it’s really a well-filmed Broadway musical. (I know I’m harping on that, but it’s so true crew members move “set pieces” throughout the film.)

Spirited, like its main characters, is not perfect. That includes an ending that didn’t quite land for me even if I understood how it fit into the story. But its comedy, heart, and cast make it an enjoyable experience. And with repeated viewing my bet is some of those otherwise forgettable songs will start to stick, making it better the more I see it. Which I plan to do many times for many Christmases. Spirited might be flawed, but it clearly loves A Christmas Carol and understands why so many others do too. How could I not like a movie—or a Broadway musical for that matter—like that?

⭐ (3 of 5)

Spirited comes to theaters November 11, 2022. It debuts at Apple TV+ on November 18.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post SPIRITED Is a Broadway Musical Masquerading as a Movie, But It Still Works appeared first on Nerdist.

“Like A Christmas Carol?” Ryan Reynolds interrupts an eerie pronouncement of doom and darkness to inquire in a very self-aware way. Because yes, in Spirited, Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell’s retelling of A Christmas Carol, the aforementioned Charles Dickens novel actually exists. This means the dark soul that is Ryan Reynolds basically knows what he’s in for. But he still thinks that people can’t change. Clearly, though, he has never met the slightly bumbling, but earnest about his job, Ghost of Christmas Present. And quite possibly, he’s never been in a Christmas movie musical before. Take a look at all the Christmas fun in the full Spirited trailer.

The description for Spirited‘s trailer offers us the following synopsis:

Imagine Charles Dickens’ heartwarming tale of a scrooge visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve—but funnier. And with Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer. Also, huge musical numbers. Okay, we’re asking a lot. Maybe just watch the trailer?

Well, hopefully, you already did watch Spirited‘s trailer and its teaser, too. And if you have, you know, it’s looking like a new classic Christmas movie. Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell have a ton of chemistry together, and we just know we’re in for a great time that’s equal parts silly, emotional, human, and ridiculous. What else would we come to these two for? It always feels good when the audience gets let in on the joke of the movie.

A fuller synopsis of Spirited‘s tale reveals that this version of A Christmas Carol brings the ghost to life, as it were. It notes:

Each Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) selects one dark soul to be reformed by a visit from three spirits. But this season, he picked the wrong Scrooge. Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) turns the tables on his ghostly host until Present finds himself reexamining his own past, present and future. For the first time, “A Christmas Carol” is told from the perspective of the ghosts in this hilarious musical twist on the classic Dickens tale. 

The Spirited trailer teases a little bit about the musical numbers we have in store. But we still have only seen glimpses of Reynolds and Ferrell with their full dancing shoes on. So we absolutely need a better look at that, stat. We guess we’ll have to tune in when Spirited releases in theaters on November 11. It will also begin streaming on Apple TV+ on November 18.

The post SPIRITED Trailer Takes Us on a Self-Aware, Musical Romp Through A CHRISTMAS CAROL appeared first on Nerdist.

Fans of Wrexham’s football club will probably only care if their new owners bring a winning team to the pitch. But whether or not Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney ever find success on the scoreboard doesn’t matter to us. The duo turned their friendship into an unlikely ownership that has already brought us great joy. Not only is it fun seeing two incredibly likable celebrities hanging out, their exploits as soccer team owners has given us the delightful Welcome to Wrexham on FX. And now it’s given us nine minutes of internet perfection. Because the only thing better than learning Reynolds once auditioned for Superman and McElhenney once auditioned for Anakin Skywalker is learning all of that while watching them play with puppies.

Especially because the puppies have no idea why this was so cool.

It’s always fun hearing our favorite performers bring us behind the curtain to talk about their lives and careers. But the Deadpool star and his friend from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Mythic Quest gave us so much more during their episode of Buzzfeed’s “The Puppy Interview.” They answered questions about possible crossovers and cameos while petting some adorable dogs. (Who you can totally adopt!) And they did it even while the pups peed their way through a junke. (For humans that is almost always considered unprofessional during a junket.)

While there’s plenty of good nuggets and entertaining answers here, one question led to a million “what ifs.” Reynolds said he once auditioned to play Clark Kent, Meanwhile, McElhenney once read to play Anakin Skywalker. We can’t even process how different the pop culture landscape would be if that ever happened.

But in some ways we don’t want to. Not because we wouldn’t want to see both of them in those respective roles. No, it’s because who knows what that might have meant for their careers. Maybe that would have meant we never saw them sit down with a room full of puppies.

And we don’t care how good their Superman and Anakin might have been. We really would hate to have missed out on this.

The post Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, and Puppies Make for a Perfect Interview appeared first on Nerdist.

If you’ve seen one adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol than you have roughly nine million to go. The book that helped shape the way we celebrate the holiday has also led to countless live-action versions. From traditional takes and animated films, to modern day retellings, Muppets, and even a story about the story, there’s no shortage of ways to appreciate the legendary ghost tale about the true meaning of Christmas. And this year we’re getting yet another way to remember that lesson. Only this adaptation is flipping the story upside down. It’s also adding singing and dancing to the festivities. The first trailer for Spirited, starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, promises a jolly good time through time itself.

You don’t really need to promote a movie that stars these two. But we’re still glad to have a Spirited trailer that’s this good. We’re also glad Octavia Spencer is along for the fun. But what exactly is going on here? This is clearly not a classic retelling; this is a new spin on the iconic story. The film’s official logline explains why this is an inverted take on the tale. From Apple TV+:

Each Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) selects one dark soul to be reformed by a visit from three spirits. But this season, he picked the wrong Scrooge. Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) turns the tables on his ghostly host until Present finds himself reexamining his own past, present and future. For the first time, “A Christmas Carol” is told from the perspective of the ghosts in this hilarious musical twist on the classic Dickens tale.

Sean Anders (Daddy’s Home, Instant Family) directs with a script he wrote with John Morris. The movie also features original songs from Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land), as well as choreography from Chloe Arnold (The Late Late Show with James Corden).

Spirited comes to Apple TV+ on November 18, 2022. And despite all the other versions of A Christmas Carol we have, we can’t wait to add another to our list of yearly watches. The Spirited trailer has us excited. (Which is why it’s a good thing this comes out in November. It takes a loooong time to watch all of them.)

The post SPIRITED Trailer Brings Musical Christmas Cheer with Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell appeared first on Nerdist.

Ryan Reynolds is seemingly everywhere these days. Not just in movies and funny social media posts, but he’s recently executive produced a documentary series as well with his friend, actor Rob McElhenney. Welcome to Wrexham premiered recently. The FX series documents Reynolds and McElhenney’s purchase of Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C. And to celebrate the team and an important upcoming holiday, the pair has announced a Welcome to Wrexham cookbook.

Since September 3 is National Welsh Rarebit Day, this was an opportunity for Reynolds and McElhenney to introduce some Welsh culture to the world. So if you’re wondering what the heck a rarebit is, or how to make one, worry not. The boys share different ways to make one of Wales’ most famous dishes. All with The Official Wrexham AFC Cookbook, 20 Ways to Make Rarebit. You can preview the cookbook, authored by Reynolds and McElhenney, in a video right here: 

And here’s what Reynolds and McElhenney had to say about their upcoming literary collaboration:

As Co-chairmen of Wrexham AFC, our mission is to support the team and local community, both on and off the pitch. Today, we’re in the kitchen. And proud to share one of Wales’ most famous and tastiest legends – Welsh Rarebit. In this book, we’ll answer questions like what is Rarebit? Isn’t it just cheese on toast? And, why are two idiots with no culinary experience releasing a recipe book about this Welsh delicacy? Every page features a Rarebit recipe lovingly tailored for fans around the world. So wherever you are, we hope you’ll enjoy taking a rare–bite out of Welsh history, as you cheer on the Red Dragons. Mwynhewch eich bwyd  (bon appetit).

You can purchase your own Welsh recipe book/Welcome to Wrexham cookbook at wrexhamcookbook.com, at a price of $18.64. All profits will go to the Wrexham Foodbank. They created the cookbook in partnership with VistaPrint, an official partner of Wrexham AFC. Hey, even if you don’t know a rarebit from cheese sandwich, it all goes to a good cause.

The post Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Announce WELCOME TO WREXHAM Cookbook appeared first on Nerdist.

I’ve discussed possibly owning a bar with my friends roughly one billion times. But I’ve never once discussed doing so with a stranger. That would be weird, obviously. Even stranger, though, would be buying a professional soccer team in a foreign country with someone I’ve never actually met. Especially if that person didn’t even really like watching sports. However, such minor trivialities didn’t stop Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney from doing just that. How did that happen? The two co-owners of the Welsh football club Wrexham AFC discussed how they ended up purchasing the soccer squad when the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Their story begins like so many other modern tales – with someone slipping into the others DMs.

Reynolds visited McElhenney while the latter was filling in for Jimmy Kimmel, and that’s how we finally got the story of their unlikely partnership. It all began with Reynolds reaching out to McElhenney in DMs after he saw Mac’s memorable dance sequence on It’s Always Sunny. The two then become friends, but without ever actually meeting in person.

That didn’t happen until they made the seemingly absurd decision to purchase a European football team together. We’ll get to see exactly what that was like on their upcoming FX docuseries, Welcome to Wrexham. But if this interview—which also touched on their height differences, experiences learning soccer’s rules, and more—is any indication, it should make for one entertaining show.

Not because we have any idea if they’re competent owners. It’s because they’re obviously real friends and care about each other. And that’s why this might ultimately be the single greatest outcome to someone sliding into another person’s DMs. Sure, that works out for both parties sometimes. But how many times has that led to a meaningful relationship, a successful TV show, and co-owning a football team together? Way less times than my friends and I have talked about owning a single pub, that’s for sure.

The post Ryan Reynolds Slid Into Rob McElhenney’s DMs and Now They Co-Own a Soccer Team appeared first on Nerdist.

Ted Lasso is technically a comedy. That’s how it’s treated by the Television Academy. The Apple TV+ show recently earned more 2022 Emmy noms than any other comedy show. And yet, fans of the series know that labeling it as such misses what makes it great. Somehow a show about a clueless American football coach managing an English soccer team is one of TV’s most moving, emotional, and sincere series around. Now Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are going to try and capture that Ted Lasso feeling in real life. The two purchased their own professional football club across the pond. And the first trailer for their FX docuseries Welcome to Wrexham shows just how seriously the two funny men are taking that responsibility.

This Welcome to Wrexham trailer is not what I was expecting from this show. I thought it would be like Nathan for You combined with Police Academy, as told by Deadpool and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘s Mac. I did not expect a docuseries this emotional and downright raw. But that’s good news for fans of Wrexham AFC, the third oldest professional football club in the world. The show will follow the two Hollywood stars as they try to revive the team that means so much to the working-class town in North Wales.

But can dedication make up for a total lack of literally everything else that goes into owning a sports team? Especially one in a foreign country when you know nothing about the game? That’s what the two performers, their fans, players, and viewers will learn together. The Welcome to Wrexham trailer certainly gives us a taste of what we’ll see. Additionally, here’s the official Welcome to Wrexham synopsis from FX:

In 2020, Rob and Ryan teamed up to purchase the 5th tier Red Dragons in the hopes of turning the club into an underdog story the whole world could root for. The worry? Rob and Ryan have no experience in football or working with each other. From Hollywood to Wales, from the pitch to the locker room, the front office to the pub, Welcome to Wrexham will track Rob and Ryan’s crash course in football club ownership and the inextricably connected fates of a team and a town counting on two actors to bring some serious hope and change to a community that could use it.

If their attempts are half as entertaining as Ted Lasso, they’ll at least end up with a winning TV show. The Welcome to Wrexham trailer certainly has piqued our interest. For the sake of Wrexham’s fans, though, we hope they also end up with a winning team.

Welcome to Wrexham kicks off at FX on August 24.

The post Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Save a Soccer Team in WELCOME TO WREXHAM Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Ryan Reynolds is very good at marketing. From knowing when to capitalize on big moments to diving head first into nostalgia, so many of the things he puts out there are absolute gold. He’s so good at it, Hugh Jackman even used the Free Guy actor to narrate his coffee commercial. Maybe it’s the effortless charisma and self-deprecating energy. Maybe it’s the fact that his gin is as good as he claims. But for Mother’s Day, Reynolds enlisted someone near and dear to help him with a new Aviation Gin-inspired cocktail: his mother. And there is nothing like a little mother-son tension to celebrate the special weekend.

In the minute-long video, Reynolds breaks down the recipe for Mother’s Ruin Punch. But not without some very sage advice and commentary from his mother. She has notes on his stirring, the amount of gin in the recipe, and lack of coasters. The latter is an especially important one—he really should have some coasters handy. Of course, Reynolds’ annoyance with his mother is (probably) all in jest. The silly video definitely serves as a reminder that the older we get, the more some things will always stay the same. Parents are always gonna be parents!

But while the entire video is a delight, the actual cocktail they’re making actually looks spectacular. Mother’s Ruin Punch may be a slightly jarring name for it, but it looks like a perfect drink to usher in the warmer weather. And celebrate the maternal figures in our lives, of course.

Want to make a pitcher or bowl of Mother’s Ruin Punch? Here’s what you need:

• 1/2 Cup of Sugar
• 3/4 Cup of Club Soda
• 1 1/2 Cups Grapefruit Juice
• 3/4 Cup Lemon Juice
• 3/4 Cup Sweet Vermouth
• 1 1/2 Cups Gin (obviously Reynolds suggests Aviation Gin)
• Top with Champagne

Hopefully this is just the beginning of a delightful series featuring Reynolds and his mother mixing drinks.

The post Ryan Reynolds and His Mom Celebrated Mother’s Day with a Drink appeared first on Nerdist.

This behind-the-scenes look at the making of Netflix‘s latest science fiction adventure shares some of the sillier moments of filming. It includes mistakes and laugh breaks from seasoned performers like Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldaña, and Jennifer Garner. With errors and slip-ups that feature everything from actors forgetting their lines, kitchen stools tripping its star, knocking over valuable props, and, in one especially hilarious moment, a truck refusing to start during a particularly intense moment.

Also, we understand why Reynolds’ Netflix joke didn’t make it into the film. (It would have totally taken us out of the moment.) But that “streamer” line is superb. Second only to his joke about Netflix really wanting The Rock for the film.

But the biggest surprise might be how many takes young Walker Scobell ruined by doing his best Merc With a Mouth impression. He plays the 12-year-old version of the film’s titular hero. Reynolds plays the adult, time-traveling version.

Cleary young Walker has seen his fellow Adam’s Deadpool movies a few too many times. The foul-mouthed superhero would prefer we not blame him, though. But who the f*** else are we going to blame? Walker certainly didn’t learn that language from the film’s script. The Adam Project is a much sweeter movie than this blooper reel suggests.

The post THE ADAM PROJECT’s Stars Get Silly in Behind-the-Scenes Blooper Reel appeared first on Nerdist.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, which broke the news, Bob’s Burgers writers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin are penning the script. (Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick wrote the first two Deadpool films.)

It’s been nearly four years since we last caught up with Wade Wilson. And we wondered when we’d see him again. Notably, this is the first Deadpool film since Disney acquired Fox—which included 20th Century Fox, Deadpool‘s studio home. The Venn diagram between the classic Disney brand and Deadpool are probably more akin to two circles drawn next to each other on a piece of paper. (Any overlap is strictly fan-based.) Famously, Disney has never released anything with an R-rating. And what is Deadpool if not fully basking in the R-rating?

But luckily, it sounds like Deadpool gets to keep its raunchy touch. Curiously, I wonder if it’ll fall under 20th Century Studios, the Disneyfied version of its predecessor studio. (That it shares a studio with the Ben Affleck movie Deep Water makes a hell of a lot more sense than bunking with live-action Dumbo.)

But with Deadpool officially back under the greater Disney umbrella, could it now be a Marvel Studios film? I, personally, would love to see Deadpool and Doctor Strange in a room together. It sounds like it would be pure chaos. If Deadpool is (probably) back-flipping over to the MCU, how long must we wait for the previous two films to flee Hulu for Disney+? Certainly not before March 16, when they can be fully locked under the streaming platform’s new parental controls.

Deadpool 3 doesn’t have a release date yet—and we still don’t know who from the cast is joining Ryan Reynolds. But we’re on the lookout and will update with more details soon. 

The post Shawn Levy to Direct DEADPOOL 3 for Marvel appeared first on Nerdist.

Deadpool and the Incredible Hulk both know two things. One is the awesome opportunities that come with time travel. The other is that Daylight Saving is dumb. What’s not dumb, though, is the “epic” PSA Christopher Lloyd offered about what “time” really means.

It’s not only his role in the Back to the Future trilogy that makes him an expert, though. At 83 years old he knows “life is about moving forward.” And damn if he doesn’t have the gravitas to turn an otherwise silly video into something memorable.

Of course, when they’re not worried about the clock, actors also have to worry about finding clever ways to promote your new film. Which Ryan Reynolds continues to do in ways only he can.

This strangely moving promotion definitely qualifies. As do the other special videos Reynolds has shared for The Adam Project. Like one with his young co-star Walker Scobell selling Kraft Mac & Cheese with a side of crass.

That’s not quite as touching as Christopher Lloyd’s screed about time. But it’s still an important promo whether you see the film this weekend or not. Because while you watched it, at least you didn’t have to think about losing an hour of sleep on Sunday. And moving the clock forward is dumb. Unless you have a time machine.

The post Christopher Lloyd Shares a Time PSA with Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo appeared first on Nerdist.

Levy discussed why his partnership with Reynolds works so well. As well as why this movie sees its star give a performance unlike anything fans have seen from him before. And Levy also explained why The Adam Project, which is ultimately a wish fulfillment fantasy that every viewer, no matter the timeline, can relate to, was so personal to make.

(Note: This interview has two very minor spoilers, which aren’t even really spoilers if you’ve seen the trailer.)

Nerdist: This is your second, of what you have said will be many, films with Ryan Reynolds. How did your experience working together on Free Guy help you in directing him this time?

Shawn Levy: Ryan and I hit it off pretty instantly and Free Guy was a joy of a collaboration. I suspect that the benefit of Free Guy is that it gave us so much mutual trust. And the reason that Ryan’s performance in The Adam Project is so uniquely emotional and open is, I think, partly the result of the trust we have in each other. There are scenes in The Adam Project where Ryan gives a performance unlike any he’s given in any movie. And I think it’s because he knows that  I am a safe place and my set is a safe place. And he can bring that authenticity and trust that I’m gonna respect it and honor it.

What new things did you learn about him while working on The Adam Project?

SL: It’s not that I learned he was a straight-up killer actor, but I was reminded of his chops, his abilities as an actor in completely un-comedic ways. I know that he’s like a Jedi Master of comedy and timing. But in The Adam Project he taps equally into dramatic and emotional tones. And he is f***ing great. Increasingly I really feel like Ryan and I have made back-to-back movies where there’s a certain Capra-esque/Jimmy Stewart quality to him. Where he’s relatable but fundamentally good and sweet. And that is who Ryan is. I feel lucky that I’m getting stories and this relationship that allows me to capture that onscreen.

It’s funny you say he’s a Jedi Master because you seem to want to give him a lightsaber in every movie. (Note: Free Guy featured a lightsaber. A weapon seen in The Adam Project trailer, which is definitely not a lightsaber, is compared to one by a character.)

SL: I know. One time literal. This time most definitely not. So Star Wars and Lucasfilm please don’t sue me. Probably like everyone of my generation, and decades on either side of my generation, Star Wars is so profoundly influential to me that I can’t help but weave that stuff into my work.

You’ve worked with some huge stars before. Really big names, big casts. And this cast is also loaded. What are the challenges and what are the advantages of directing prolific, well-established, well-respected actors?

SL: I’ve been pretty lucky. I suppose the risk and the pitfall is if you’re working with huge stars there’s always the chance they’re going to come at you with huge ego. And consequently be less than direct-able. I’ve been lucky, because whether its been Steve Martin, Ryan Reynolds, Robin Williams, or Ben Stiller, all the celebrities I’ve directed over the years, I’ve happily found that they all still want to be performers and actors.

And mostly they want to trust that their director has their back. If you can earn that trust they’ll give you the good shit. They’ll give you the weird shit. Guess what, they’ll give you some takes that suck because they know that you’re not going to do them wrong. And, if you get the trust of a star who also is inordinately supremely talented, that makes one’s job a dream come true. And this job is my dream come true. Twelve year old me dreamed of this life, so I feel very fortunate to be living it.

A time travel movie means there will be time travel movie obsessives like me who are looking at it closely. Were you at all intimidated by making sure there were time travel rules that were followed and made sense?

SL: Yes and asterisk. I am not a time travel genre wonk. In fact, I believe my exact words to (screenwriter) Jonathan Tropper, as he was explaining the time travel rules to be ad nauseam, were, “JT, I don’t f***ing give a shit. Make it watertight and make it as f***ing simple as possible so people can enjoy the ride. “That was my North Star mantra and that’s what I aimed to do. I hope as someone who does know and care about that stuff you will tell me the science and the rules are pretty sound.

I thought it made sense and I thought it was easy enough to understand.

SL: You can describe my fist pump of gratification. (Note: It was a standard style fist pump, the kind an un-showy golfer might bust out after a big putt.)

This film is a sci-fi action thriller, but like so many of your movies it’s core is a very personal, very touching emotional story about family. Including how we remember our parents, both good and bad. You’ve previously said you had a “rough childhood,”  where certain aspects “were great, and other parts were real spotty,” including “tough spans of time, in terms of struggles” your mom went through. How did your own experiences influence you while making a film that is literally about going back to your childhood and seeing your parents again?

SL: Well for one thing I think that the traumas and challenges of my own childhood taught me early how important it is to make peace with those struggles. And to make peace with those resentments that accrue as a result. Because once I was an adult I realized, “Oh, if I hold on to this anger and resentment forever, I basically have no chance at being a happy functional adult.” And I’d like to enjoy my life as much as possible. So to make a movie where it’s quite literally about revisiting your childhood with empathy and being liberated as a result, that’s important for all of us. And it’s certainly been important to me as an individual, so I felt really lucky to make a movie that was so intimately connected with struggles and themes that Ive personally navigated.

Is that what attracted you to the script?

SL: Definitely, yes. I think I was that lonely kid who struggled sometimes with a childhood that was far from ideal. And I would have loved the comfort of knowing it was all gonna turn out okay. I then, as an adult, needed to forgive my parents for their imperfections. And Ryan came to this movie with similarly personal stakes. In regards to his own dad, in regards to the way his brothers and he rallied around his mom. So yeah, we brought a huge amount of ourselves to this movie and that’s why it was so cathartic to make it.

I was very emotional watching this movie. I’m also a huge sucker for the trope of going back and talking to people who are gone. Was it as emotional for you making this film when you removed yourself from the role of director?

SL: Yeah. I mean, I can fairly confidently predict that one of those scenes that maybe accessed you in that way was the scene in the bar. Where you have a grown man talking to his mother who doesn’t realize she’s talking to her son. And that was—I just got goosebumps, actually—because that day no one on that set had dry eyes. It was so beautiful, both in terms of their performances, Jen Garner, Ryan Reynolds, but just the idea of it. It’s a fundamental human yearning that we never get to satisfy. We can not go back and say the unsaid. So the idea of being able to do that I think is universally resonant.

What do you hope more than anything viewers take away from this movie?

SL: I hope, once again, as with Free Guy, they’re reminded of the delight of an original film. Because there’s the possibility of the unexpected and surprise. I know they’re going into The Adam Project thinking it’s one thing, only to learn, I think, that it’s several things.

And that’s the other thing I hope that they’ll see. Movies don’t need to be about only one thing. They don’t need to be only about the laughs, only about the spectacle. I love those Amblin movies of my youth that were formative, obviously, for so many of us. But were high concept, mixed with technology, mixed with spectacle, mixed with wish fulfillment and warm heart. Those are the kinds of movies I love. Those are the kinds of movies I want to make.

The Adam Project premieres on Netflix March 11.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post THE ADAM PROJECT’s Shawn Levy on Ryan Reynolds, Time Travel, and Forgiveness appeared first on Nerdist.

A movie about time travel that stars Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldana, and Mark Ruffalo sounds like an MCU project… Especially when it features a whole lot of action scenes, special effects, and comedy. But the newest trailer for Netflix’s The Adam Project shows director Shawn Levy tells a very different kind of story. His sci-fi thriller is as much about a touching tale about family as it is about saving the universe.

The Adam Project‘s trailer finds the universe in danger. All because scientist Louis Reed (played by Ruffalo) unlocked the secrets of time travel. (Yes, we laughed at his “grandfather of time travel” line, too, since Ruffalo’s Professor Hulk sort of unlocked time travel in Avengers: Endgame.)

But this isn’t simply a matter of going back to stop an invention that could destroy the fabric of space and reality. Not after Ruffalo’s adult son Adam Reed (Reynolds) travels back nearly 30 years to 2022. That’s where he meets his younger 12-year-old self (Walker Scobell). And it turns out no matter how young or old a Ryan Reynolds character might be; he’s got a sharp wit. Though in this case, it also helps that the adult Adam is also a sharp fighter. Forces from the future are hot on Adam’s trail in the past.

The film also features Saldana as Laura, another time traveler from the year 2050 who meets up with both Adams. Jennifer Garner stars as well. She joins as Adam’s mom Ellie. And Catherine Keener rounds out the loaded cast as the leader of the future faction. If Adam Reed really did watch too many movies, he definitely saw all of these actors onscreen many times. And if he’s right about the multiverse, they might actually all be Variants of their MCU characters.

The Adam Project, the second film from Free Guy‘s Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds, comes to Netflix on March 11. That is unless a time traveler shows up to release it sooner.

The post New THE ADAM PROJECT Trailer Is a Time Travel Family Affair appeared first on Nerdist.

As of late, Ryan Reynolds films—and ads, for that matter—are generally action-packed and full of goofy energy. But with his next film, the actor is pivoting to something with a bit more emotional fare. But don’t worry, it sounds like he’s found a role that’s still plenty witty. The Free Guy actor leads the very star-studded film The Adam Project, which debuts on Netflix in March. And it’s official trailer has arrived, bringing a whole lot of fun, sci-fi fare.

In it, Reynolds plays a time-traveling pilot named Adam Reed, who, per the logline “teams up with his younger self and his late father to come to terms with his past while saving the future.” The trailer’s description indicates the elder Adam “accidentally” crash-landed in 2022. So it sounds like he didn’t intend to bring his younger self along for the mission but hey, maybe two Adams are better than one!

Walker Scobell plays the younger Adam, while Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo play Adam’s parents. (Reuniting on-screen 18 years after 13 Going on 30!) Catherine Keener and Zoe Saldaña also star. Keener allegedly plays the film’s villain, who steals powerful technology from Ruffalo’s physicist character.

Netflix also released a whole bunch of first look images, which teases action, tension, and maybe even some tears.

On a basic level, the concept is fairly intriguing. Time travel logic in media is famously a bit murky, with each piece of media using its own set of rules—for better or, more often, for worse. (Although few have pulled it off as brilliantly as the Netflix series Dark.) But given The Adam Project sees Reynolds’ adult Adam reunite with his younger self, his deceased father, and his mom—there is a lot to consider. And not just because it sounds like quite an emotionally fraught situation. What kind of futuristic technology are we working with? What does it take to alter the future timeline—a catastrophic change or something as simple as adult Adam buying a coffee? I’m certainly looking forward to finding out.

Although it sounds like, the adult Adam wants the future to change. Or at least revert back to something else. Adam says in the trailer, “This world, out world, everything has already been changed. We’re gonna put the genie back into the bottle.” It sounds like his father’s death—or this life’s work—play a pretty pivotal part in this altered world.

Shawn Levy directs and produces The Adam Project, while in addition to starring, Ryan Reynolds is also a producer. The film boasts a script from Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin.

The Adam Project debuts on Netflix on March 11, 2022.

Originally published on February 1, 2022.

The post THE ADAM PROJECT Trailer Sends a Futuristic Ryan Reynolds to 2022 appeared first on Nerdist.

Over the last few years, Netflix has doubled down on its original film content in a pretty big way. But in 2022, the streaming platform is shooting for the moon. At least, that’s what the first look at its film slate for the year indicates. Netflix just released a giant trailer—a first glimpse supercut, if you will—of what to expect from its roster of 2022 movies.

Sure, the talking to camera aspect is a little hokey, but there is just so much good footage here we’ll overlook it. Some of the footage is for films we’ve already gotten a brief look at. Like the Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo film The Adam Project. Plus a very brief shot at the Ewan McGregor-voiced Cricket in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. And then there’s the brand spanking new stuff.

There’s a first glimpse of Ryan Gosling and mustachioed Chris Evans in The Gray Man. And then, of course, our beloved Henry Cavill donning the pipe once more as Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes 2. And who is that but Benoit Blanc? Daniel Craig leads a new cast of suspects in a Greece-set sequel to Knives Out.

Just way too much to unpack! As such, here’s a breakdown of just a few of the movies we’re looking forward to from Netflix this year:

The Adam Project

Ryan Reynolds plays one of the titular Adams, who goes back in time to reunite with his younger self and his late father. Why? To save the future and come to terms with his past.

Shawn Levy directs the sci-fi film. Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett, and Mark Levin wrote the script. Rounding out the cast are Jennifer Garner, Walker Scobell, with Catherine Keener, and Zoe Saldaña.

Dayshift

Jamie Foxx as a vampire hunter and a union man? Say less! Our interest is already very, very piqued about this 2022 Netflix movie. According to the synopsis:

Jamie Foxx stars as a hard-working blue-collar dad who just wants to provide a good life for his quick-witted daughter, but his mundane San Fernando Valley pool cleaning job is a front for his real source of income, hunting and killing vampires as part of an international Union of vampire hunters.

JJ Perry directs a script from Tyler Tice and Shay Hatten. The film also stars Dave Franco, Karla Souza, Meagan Good, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Oliver Masucci, Snoop Dogg, Steve Howey, Scott Adkins, and Zion Broadnax.

Enola Holmes 2

Enola Holmes is growing up! Millie Bobby Brown returns as the titular little sister who is now a private detective in her own right. Based on the books by Nancy Springer, Harry Bradbeer directs a script from Jack Thorne. 

Here’s the official logline:

Now a detective-for-hire like her infamous brother, Enola Holmes takes on her first official case to find a missing girl, as the sparks of a dangerous conspiracy ignite a mystery that requires the help of friends—and Sherlock himself—to unravel.

The film also stars Henry Cavill, Louis Partridge, Helena Bonham Carter, David Thewlis, Susan Wokoma, Adeel Akhtar, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Hannah Dodd, Abbie Hern, Gabriel Tierney, and Serrana Su-Ling Bliss.

The Gray Man

The Russo brothers are officially back in the director’s chair for the first time since Avengers: Endgame in this spy action thriller based on the book by Mark Greaney. In addition to directing, Joe Russo wrote the script with Captain America alums, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

Here’s a brief description of what to expect from the film:

When the CIA’s most skilled mercenary—whose true identity is known to none—accidentally uncovers dark agency secrets, a psychopathic former colleague puts a bounty on his head, setting off a global manhunt by international assassins.

In addition to Gosling and Evans, the film also stars Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Wagner Moura, Dhanush, Billy Bob Thornton, Alfre Woodard, Regé-Jean Page, Julia Butters, Eme Ikwuakor, and Scott Haze.

Knives Out 2

Another Rian Johnson whodunit is officially on the way! We still don’t know much about it at all, besides the fact that it’s set in Greece. But Benoit Blanc is officially back on the case. Joining Daniel Craig are Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Jessica Henwick, and Madelyn Cline.

As far as Netflix’s 2022 movies go, we are very excited about this one.

The Mothership

Another surely-emotional sci-fi adventure on the docket! Halle Berry and her kids are on the hunt for their missing father after discovering a strange object under their house. Written and directed by Matt Charman, the film also stars Omari Hardwick, Jaiden J. Smith,  Quinn McPherson, Paul Guilfoyle, Sydney Lemmon, Molly Parker,  John Ortiz.

Here’s a breakdown of the synopsis, per Netflix:

A sci-fi adventure that follows Sara Morse (Halle Berry) one year since her husband (Omari Hardwick) mysteriously vanished from their rural farm. When she discovers a strange, extraterrestrial object underneath their home, Sara and her kids (Jaiden J. Smith, Quinn McPherson) embark on a race to find their husband, father and most importantly—the truth.

The School for Good and Evil

Forget heroes and sidekicks; this school trains heroes and their villains. We love to see it, to be quite honest! Kerry Washington and Charlize Theron are the school’s matrons, and they are looking as fabulous as ever.

Here’s a brief description of the film:

Best friends Sophie and Agatha find themselves on opposing sides of a modern fairy tale when they’re swept away into an enchanted school where young heroes and villains are trained to protect the balance of good and evil.

Paul Feig directed and wrote the script with David Magee and Laura Solon. Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Yeoh, Sofia Wylie, Sophie Anne Caruso, Jamie Flatters, Kit Young, Sir Ben Kingsley, Patti LuPone, Rachel Bloom, Peter Serafinowicz, Rob Delaney, and Mark Heap also star.

In 2022, Netflix is bringing all these movies to life and so, so much more.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

The post Netflix Unveils Ridiculously Star-studded Trailer for Its 2022 Movies appeared first on Nerdist.

Deadline reports Carell has signed on for the next film from The Quiet Place director. It will see the former Jim Halpert write, direct, produce, and star in a movie based on his own idea. There’s no official synopsis for the film yet. But Deadline says it’s “about a child’s journey to rediscover their imagination.”

In addition to Carrell and the other big names already attached, it will also feature two of Hollywood’s best youngsters, Alan Kim (Minari) and Cailey Fleming (The Walking Dead). Despite only being 14, Fleming already has major nerd cred. She also starred as young Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. And as young Sylvie on Disney+’s Loki. The always excellent Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve) is also attached to the movie.

Krasinki’s production company Sunday Night will produce with Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort productions. The film has a targeted release date for fall of next year, November 17, 2023. It will be the first time Carell and Krasinski have teamed up since their time together on the hit NBC series. Of course, with Krasinski in the director’s chair he’ll be the one bossing around the former Michael Scott.

Not that fans of The Office care which one is in charge. They’ll just be happy to see the former co-workers back together again. Especially if this film leads to a real reunion for The Office.

The post Steve Carell Joins John Krasinski’s Next Film appeared first on Nerdist.

Jimmy Kimmel’s recent Live in Front of a Studio Audience special was a flashback trip for Gen-Xers. One that even puts Stranger Things to shame. In the prime time special, names like Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Hart did re-creations of some of the cheesiest of ’80s sitcoms. Namely, The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes. But interspersed throughout were a ton of ’80s flavored phony commercials—each of which completely evokes the flavor of the era. Producing these? None other than Ryan Reynolds. A ton of retro icons showed up in these faux ads, including Alfonso Ribeiro and Flashdance‘s Jennifer Beals. You can watch some of our favorites below.

Alfonso Ribeiro’s Oscar Mayer spot is a spoof on not just the hot dog brand, but also on Brooke Shields’ infamous Calvin Klein jeans ad from 1980. And for those younger folks reading this who have no idea what we’re talking about, you can check out the real ad right here.

The anti-drug PSAs were everywhere in the ’80s. If you watched cartoons on weekday afternoons, you’d only see these. (Along with ads for toys and breakfast cereal of course). The most famous of these was the “this is your brain on drugs” frying pan ads. And Ribeiro nails the overwrought seriousness of those, in an ad for… a grilled cheese sandwich? Sure, why not.

Shoulder pads were all the rage in the ’80s. And they looked good on almost no one. Well, except for Joan Collins on Dynasty and The Golden Girls. Oh, and also Jennifer Beals in this “Shoulder Patties” Jack in the Box ad. Also, those Jack in the Box shoulder patties are clearly keeping Jennifer Beals ageless, so we say keep chowing down on those.

You can hear Ryan Reynolds’ distinctive voice in this Aviation Gin ad. This one mocks the Ronald Reagan “morning in America” campaign ads from his second term. They seem extremely cheesy today, but they sure worked back then.

If you were a kid in the ’80s, you dreaded your dad changing the channel from He-Man cartoons to the PBS home improvement show This Old House. The show’s host, Bob Vila, actually came back for this spoof version, “This Old Hole.” And why is there a hole in the wall? Oh yeah. You can blame the Kool-Aid Man for that one.

Yes, this is Heinz Ketchup ad is a spoof daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives and its endless ridiculous plotlines. But honestly, the show was like that. Does anyone out there still remember when Marlena was possessed by the Devil? We sure do.

To see a compilation video of the complete set of ads, head on over to Ryan Reynolds’ YouTube channel.

The post Ryan Reynolds Produced Hilariously Spot-On Retro TV Ads appeared first on Nerdist.

You’d be thrilled if you had tickets to a late night talk show where Ryan Reynolds was set to be the main guest. The same is true of Will Ferrell. On the flip side, you’d be incredibly disappointed if either of them cancelled. Which is exactly what happened to two different audiences last night. Each performer no-showed, but only because they were too busy filling in for the other. Ferrell headed to Jimmy Kimmel Live while Reynolds went to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. And they did such a good job they even answered all the questions meant for the other.

Will Ferrell and his amazing Star Wars pants pushing Reynolds’ movie Red Notice on Netflix is so much funnier than this “spontaneous’ swap has any right to be. As is him answering Jimmy Kimmel’s questions about Blake Lively, Reynolds’ personal life, and Canadian politics. Because while this is clearly a bit. Ferrell has always been one of the best at sincerely selling a ridiculous premise as though it’s real. That’s Will Ferrell’s wheelhouse.

Jimmy Fallon, though, is, uh, less good at that. He acts surprised at every single thing that happens on his meticulously scripted show. Fortunately, Reynolds was able to make the whole thing work by adding some uncharacteristic edge to his normally pleasant demeanor. And like Ferrell, he also refused to talk about himself. He wouldn’t promote Red Notice. He pushed Ferrell’s upcoming Apple TV+ series The Shrink Next Door. Which, for the record, is nothing like Ant-Man.

Why the swap? For one the two just filmed a movie together, Spirited. More importantly though this was a clever way to get us to notice both of their current projects. If they each made their scheduled appearance we probably wouldn’t have written about either. (Though Ferrell’s pants alone might have tempted us.)

How much mileage you get out of this switcheroo probably depends on how much you like the four people involved. But at minimum neither audience went home disappointed.

The post Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds Swap Late Night Guest Spots appeared first on Nerdist.

Ready for a light-hearted romp with a trio of definite characters? Netflix has recently released the full trailer for Red Notice starring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot.

This trailer reveals more about the setup of the story and offers a glimpse at some of its glossy action sequences and quippy humor.

The official description shares:

An Interpol-issued Red Notice is a global alert to hunt and capture the world’s most wanted. But when a daring heist brings together the FBI’s top profiler (Johnson) and two rival criminals (Gadot, Reynolds), there’s no telling what will happen.

In this trailer, the audience learns that Gadot’s criminal character actually entrapped John Hartley (Johnson). His team-up with Nolan Booth (Reynolds) comes as a last-ditch attempt to clear his name.

Netflix 

“Life doesn’t always imitate art, but I’d wear a tux and do karate with The Rock and Gal Gadot every day if I could.” Ryan Reynolds’ shared earlier, describing Red Notice. And doesn’t that really just say it all?

Fans can also check out the teaser trailer for the film, here:

Here’s an even deeper look into Red Notice:

When an Interpol-issued Red Notice — the highest level warrant to hunt and capture the world’s most wanted— goes out, the FBI’s top profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) is on the case. His global pursuit finds him smack dab in the middle of a daring heist where he’s forced to partner with the world’s greatest art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch the world’s most wanted art thief, “The Bishop” (Gal Gadot).

The high-flying adventure that ensues takes the trio around the world, across the dance floor, trapped in a secluded prison, into the jungle and, worst of all for them, constantly into each other’s company. The all star cast is joined by Ritu Arya and Chris Diamantopolous. Directed and written by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Central Intelligence, Skyscraper) and produced by Hiram Garcia, Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia of Seven Bucks Productions, Beau Flynn’s Flynn Picture Co. and Thurber’s Bad Version, Inc., Red Notice is a stylish globe-trotting game of cat-and-mouse (and cat).

The movie has a distinctly White Collar air. But its trailer, while enjoyable, leans into action movie stereotypes. Of course, in a showdown between the three leads, Gadot emerges untouchable. Her red lipstick and slinky dress are a must for a fight. She brings out handcuffs with ease and outsmarts the boys. Though, for some reason, she had to pull her hair down first to do it. This leads us to… a bromance? Naturally.

Netflix 

It’s too early to judge a book by its cover, but both the teaser and the trailer seemed to harp on one loud message. That message: “Guess what? They’re definitely straight.” In the teaser, Hartley and Booth make the requisite, to paraphrase, “We’re partners, but we’re not partners” joke right out of the gate. A sort of joke that is not funny, by the way. In this case, framed around the conceit of “Work Wives.” And this seamlessly gives way to Hartley and “The Bishop” engaging in a cat-and-mouse seduction typical to the genre. The latter could definitely have done without the former. And honestly, they’re both pretty tired.

In the fuller trailer, the “joke” about marriage carries through in a different form. Again, not really a necessary component.

Of course, a trailer red herring is possible, and Red Notice could offer a surprise. We’re rooting for it! Red is right in the title, after all.  In a triad of three action heroes, it’s about time the bromance becomes a romance.

With Jungle Cruise and Free Guy, The Rock and Reynolds all had big summers. We hope their next outing only delights us.

This article was originally published on September 2, 2021, and most recently updated on October 21, 2021. 

The post Netflix Shares Trailer For Ryan Reynolds’ Heist Romp RED NOTICE appeared first on Nerdist.

In the episode, AFC Richmond’s Director of Football Operations, the jovial Leslie Higgins, muses that he “can’t tell if them buying the club is a joke or not.” Which, to be fair, was definitely a sentiment shared by the masses after the pair announced their ownership. Reynolds and McElhenney shared their open letter/cease and desist on Twitter and, as expected, it’s quite funny.

In the goofy, and legally dubious, letter the pair call out the TV series and its streaming home. It’s actually a pretty efficient letter. In the space of a paragraph, they absolve Jeremy Swift of any wrongdoing, plug McElhenney’s TV series (twice), and demand some sweet snacks. Oh, and they “threaten” legal action.

Here’s the crux of the note:

“It has come to our attention that in a recent episode of Ted Lasso our very real ownership of Wrexham AFC was called into question by an otherwise beloved character named ‘Higgins.’ While we hold the incomparable Jeremy Swift in no ill regard and are honored to be mentioned on the platform that’s brought us high-quality programming ranging from Mythic Quest season one to Mythic Quest season two, we must insist that you cease and desist from the casting of any doubt regarding our commitment to the club, the fans, and the entire Wrexham community.”

They close out the letter demanding two large boxes of biscuits, delivered to Wrexham AFC’s home stadium. With a pretty tight turnaround. It’s a pretty bold remark, especially considering the season one biscuits were famously bad in real life. Unfortunately, the pair didn’t specifically request the much improved season two biscuits.

Ryan Reynolds

No word as to whether the biscuits made it to Wales, presumably hand-delivered by special envoy Colin Hughes, before the August 21 deadline. As for the game itself? Wrexham AFC and Solihull Moors tied—a fitting end considering Ted Lasso‘s season two woes.

The post Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Respond to TED LASSO Joke appeared first on Nerdist.

Is Free Guy IP propaganda? Yes, of course, it is. I mean if you owned the rights to every Lucasfilm, Disney, and Marvel IP, wouldn’t you use it in a movie about world-building too? However, while the array of cameos and Easter eggs is definitely present, the movie is enjoyable and wildly entertaining. And, it has subtle messages about being unique, creative, and even choosing artistry over money. Gasp! 

Disney

Guy (Ryan Reynolds) is a bank teller. He gets a coffee every day, goes to work, hangs out with his best friend Buddy (Lil Rel Howery), and gets held up at gunpoint by a random bad guy. But after an existence of seeing “sunglasses” people being heroes, saving people, and getting really cool stuff, Guy starts to want more. 

Then he meets Molotovgirl (Jodie Comer), and something awakens in him. Soon, he is one of the sunglasses people, and he loves it. Every gamer in the game starts to cheer on the “Blue Shirt” guy who battles bad guys but refuses to hurt anyone. However, when Molotovgirl seeks to find Guy’s “real” identity, she discovers he is a non-playing character (NPC). It turns out, Guy is an AI who doesn’t know he’s an AI yet. And now, the greedy gaming mogul Antwan (Taika Waititi) is out to get rid of Guy before the world uncovers how he stole Molotovgirl aka Millie’s AI programming.

Disney

Pondering the meaning of existence in a movie can be very heavy; even more so if you make that existence an artificial one. And one wrong note could send the entire premise into something very dark or confusing. Free Guy’s script does not do that. It is smart in knowing when to throw some messaging in and very in tune with how to engage the audience to keep it light. And the story also acknowledges the toxicity that exists in the gaming world. While subtly recognizing these complex layers, it adds that humor we have come to expect when Reynolds is the lead. 

Additionally, the world-building is incredible. When the film focuses on “Free City,” it truly feels like you’re in an RPG. There’s a lot to catch, yet it doesn’t feel overwhelming. The graphics are fantastic. Which is great because, without that, this film would not work. Video games have become more and more realistic over time. The set design and VFX are impeccable and engaging.

The movie is perfectly cast. Comer, a bad-ass in her own rights, is relatable and endearing as Molotovgirl/Millie. She matches Reynolds beat for beat. She’s a wonderful representation of a modern woman. Smart, focused, creative, and her entire character isn’t “I’m a science nerd.” Which, when it comes to how women are portrayed in action films, let alone video games, is a whole lot of growth. She’s also desirable not because she wears revealing clothing or anything like that. Rather, her love interests are crazy about her because of who she is: a woman who gets things done.

One of my favorite moments comes not when the hero “gets the girl,” but rather a quick moment where Guy talks about all the changes all the other NPCs have been making to their lives. Growing up, we were told to follow certain rules, and eventually, we would achieve our dreams. Free Guy doesn’t say that. In fact, it encourages following your heart and creating your own journey. Even if it means breaking a few rules. 

Rating 4/5

The post FREE GUY Is Peak Ryan Reynolds, and That’s a Good Thing appeared first on Nerdist.

The promotion for Ryan Reynolds’ upcoming movie Free Guy have been, well….very Ryan Reynolds. First, there was his most recent promo for the movie, where he reprises his role of Deadpool, along with the MCU’s Korg. He’s now followed that ad up with something even weirder. Goodbye Merc with the Mouth, say hello to DUDE. Yeah, just “DUDE.” He doesn’t have a catchphrase yet, so his catchphrase is just “catchphrase.” This super swole version of Ryan Reynolds‘ character now stars in his own (mildly disturbing?) ad for Free Guy.

You can watch the whole ad right here:

Just seeing Ryan Reynolds’ face CGI-ed onto a mega-ripped body is unsettling enough. But then DUDE talks, and it’s kind of worse? But worse in a good way. DUDE talks about how ripped he is, and how his workout routine consisted of maybe one week total. All it took was a “protein bomb” made of actual human muscle. Totally organic of course.

Ryan Reynolds also “goes there,” so to speak, joking that his youngest daughter with Blake Lively (fathered while in DUDE form of course) was born as a full grown adult. And also wearing shoes of course. We can only imagine the embarrassment that kid is going to feel when they’re old enough to see this ad. Yikes.

20th Century Studios

Of course, there’s the obligatory Deadpool reference. DUDE says that he simply is too buff now to fit into that red and black costume. But such is the price of a body built like that of Hercules. (We still want to see him try to fit into the suit though). We’re not sure how big a part the disturbing yet hilarious DUDE has in the actual movie, but the ad has pretty much sold us on him.

We’ll see DUDE in all his glory on the big screen when Free Guy hits theaters on August 13.

The post Ryan Reynolds Gets Disturbingly Swole in New FREE GUY Ad appeared first on Nerdist.

Ever since Disney bought Fox, people have been wondering just when the heck Deadpool 3 was coming. Or, in other words, when the heck Deadpool was officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Well, in a very unexpected way, he just has. In a new promotion for the upcoming Ryan Reynolds movie Free Guy, Thor: Ragnarok favorite Korg joins the Merc with the Mouth for the first MCU/Deadpool crossover.

Together, the two make a “reaction video” parody video, where they watch the trailer for the movie, and snarkily comment along. You can watch the full hilarious Free Guy “reaction video,” featuring the voices of Ryan Reynolds and Taika Waititi, right here.

And here, we all thought that Pietro in WandaVision was going to be the first X-Men universe/MCU crossover. But nope, it was this promo video for a non-Marvel based film. So of all the MCU characters who could have interacted with Deadpool first, why Korg? Well, the voice of Korg, Taika Waititi is actually in Free Guy. So that’s your answer right there.

In his trademark fashion, Deadpool finds a way to mock not just the movie he’s there to promote, but also the recent success of the MCU on Disney+.  He even takes shots at Deadpool 2. And he cracks a joke that Free Guy is just something leftover from a “fire sale” after Disney bought 20th Century Studios from Fox. Ouch. There might be a little truth to that wisecrack. It still looks like a fun movie regardless of said Fire Sale though.

Disney

In any event, this actually makes us long for an official Deadpool/Korg meeting on the big screen. At some point, Deadpool 3 is going to be a reality. Why not team him up with a bunch of random minor characters from the MCU? Korg can be there. Maybe resurrect the Warriors Three from the Thor franchise. They really deserved better.

Free Guy hits theaters exclusively on August 13.

This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

The post Deadpool Makes His First MCU Appearance Alongside Korg… for FREE GUY appeared first on Nerdist.

The Two Worlds of Free Guy

The movie has two distinct settings. The first is Free City, a type of open world shooter video game. Levy says the faux game certainly has “shades of Grand Theft Auto and other games of that ilk.” But “is in no way a literal adaptation” of anything that already exists. Within the video game world Reynolds plays Guy, a non-playable character (NPC), the type of background characters that populate video games.

20th Century Studios

Levy says the Free City of the game is a dangerous place. With “an enormous amount of threats left, right, and center.” Guy works as a bank teller, where a normal day involves “eight to 16 robberies.” A fact of life Guy accepts as totally normal. That is until he realizes he’s actually a character inside a game on the verge of being destroyed by its owner (played by Taika Waititi).

The other setting is the real world we live in. Levy says each place has “distinct, rigorous visual rules to distinguish” them from each other. “Me and George Richmond, who shot Rocketman and Kingsmen, spent months of prep basically writing bibles for the aesthetic of each world so that they feel distinct and different.”

Appealing to Both Gamers and Non-Gamers

The film might take place in a video game. But the film isn’t exclusively for gamers. “If we do our job well, it’s going to make a gamer feel seen, and like we got certain things right,” says Levy. “But it should be more broadly resonant and relatable” to non-gamers too.

Reynolds compares Free Guy to another genre. “The greatest sports movies ever made are not actually about sports. Field of Dreams, I wouldn’t characterize that as a baseball story. They use baseball as a vehicle to tell a really beautiful story about a son and a father trying to connect. And I think that we’re doing the same thing, we’re using the video game world, the Free City world and video game culture, as a vehicle to tell this really beautiful and powerful human story.”

Comer says the film is “sentimental and it has a sentimental message.”

Don’t take that to mean it’s sappy though. All three of them say the movie is really funny. “It’s hilarious to see actual human beings doing it rather than a digital [character] on a screen,” says Comer.

20th Century Studios

The Free City setting also allowed for a creative freedom that both gamer and non-gamer moviegoers will appreciate. “There are no rules of reality,” says Levy. “This movie has, by two or three times, more action stunts and spectacle than any movie I’ve done. It’s everything I could dream up. When I fell in love with a visual idea, we worked it into the screen.”

Real Human Avatars

Unlike Ready Player One and other movies that used digital avatars within its video game world, the characters in Free City are played by real actors. It’s a difference the three say will make a big difference in how audiences receive the film. It will also add to the comedy.

20th Century Studios

Levy says the real-virtual avatars “are more Fortnite than GTA” in terms of what they wear. (And how they sometimes dance over fallen foes.) While some avatars dress and look like real world people, many of the film’s costumes are original “and much more conceptual.” That turned the set into something akin to an old Hollywood studio. “Every day it’s what people imagine a movie set is like, because we’ve got a dozen different people in these very pushed costumes,” says Levy. “I think we ended up designing about 47 different avatars.”

Not that anyone in the game will acknowledge the inherent silliness. “There’s a very deadpan approach to the background craziness,” says the director.

A Superhero in Khaki

While it might not seem like it, Levy and Reynolds say Free Guy is a type of superhero story. Even if its hero wears khaki pants. “Guy realizes that if he wants to talk to this woman, Molotov Girl (Comer’s video game avatar), he’s got to level up because he’s a level one,” says Levy. “But he doesn’t want to commit crimes. He doesn’t want to kill anyone and he doesn’t want to shoot a gun.”

That leads Comer’s character to tell Guy that if he doesn’t want to be the bad guy, maybe you just be the “good guy.”

But Guy can still be harmed in his video game world. He can’t be killed, because he can re-spawn. “But at a certain point there is a circumstance where he would lose his memory of ever having been alive,” says Levy. “And that would be cataclysmic both for him and for Molotov Girl, who, in the second half of the movie, needs an ally in the game.”

20th Century Studios

Guy’s inherent goodness is more than just a reflection of his character. While Levy says the film “is not a searing commentary on game culture,” but instead is “a comment on how there is something to these games that is aspirational.” He says, “There is something about what we aspire to and how that’s expressed in games that is kind of troubling. And it’s why the big theme of this movie is that Ryan’s character is trying to be a good guy inside a city where goodness doesn’t exist. In fact, it’s not believed. The whole point of playing the game is to indulge pure id. And here you have a guy trying to level up, who’s trying to actually express something more idealistic. That’s probably the result of Ryan and I being fundamentally Canadian and therefore slightly more hopeful, perhaps.”

Comer Pulls Double Duty

Comer is really the film’s protagonist according to the director. Because she plays a major role in both worlds. The two versions of her are very different. But they share one important trait. In the real world she’s Milly, the video game designer behind Free City. Milly created an original code that was stolen and changed. (Everyone on set was extra extra careful not to reveal what those changes are.)

20th Century Studios

In Free City she’s Molotov Girl. “Molotov is very physically strong and does all of these very impressive things and is super cool,” says Comer. “And Milly’s a little bit more introverted, so that is very different. But I think the resilience is there in Milly, and her determination to kind of fight for what is hers.”

She does so by going inside the virtual world she helped create.

Comer also says that despite Guy being a video game character, the relationship that develops between the two is very real. With real emotions. “[Guy] thinks his life has this greater meaning, as we all do, and it’s about how these two people who are from completely separate worlds kind of help each other realize a lot of what is inside of them,” she says. “And they help each other both get to kind of destination it is that they need to be at.”

Jodie Comer Had the Best Homework Ever

20th Century Studios

Comer says she’s not really a “big video gamer.” So to prepare for the film she assigned herself the best homework ever. “I have been playing, on the PS4, Grand Theft Auto,” she says. She didn’t exactly ace the test though. “I can’t do it,” Comer says. “I find it quite stressful.” She did enjoy her time playing Spider-Man though, “because that seems kind of carefree.”

Our advice for her: try Super Smash Bros., since she also says, “I’m one of those people who just presses every single button in the hopes that I survive.”

A Heavy Dose of Practical Effects

The film does use CGI. Especially when Guy puts on glasses that reveal the video game world he lives in. But what the trailers don’t accurately convey is how much the film also relies on practical effects. “An NPC was on fire the whole movie,” says Levy. “The whole movie he’s just running around on fire. We decided early on—like a lot of the effects—we wanted to do it for real. We have this man on fire who just runs through the background of frames half a dozen times in the movie.”

Practical effects come with their own major challenges though. Especially when a real person is on fire. “That guy has to be lit on fire to the second. Put out within a certain number of seconds, or it gets very dangerous,” says Levy. “But there’s something so fun about seeing real people do real things.”

20th Century Studios

The desire to use as many practical effects as possible also required a whole lot of planning. Like when they shot their big action sequence after Guy puts on his glasses for the first time. The scene, included in the film’s trailers, is all practical effects minus the Apache helicopter crashing into a building. “We had to cue the zip line 4.5 seconds before he’s supposed to be in the frame,” says Levy. “That took 11 takes. But we got it on our last take of the day.”

Get Ready for a Massive Easter Egg Hunt

If you like Easter eggs, you’re going to be very happy. Levy says the film has several of them that allude to a number of games and movies, and movies about games. But they’re more a fun bonus than an integral part of the film.

“There’s always something pretty amazing happening [on screen],” says Reynolds. “I don’t think Easter eggs are a storytelling pillar. But I do think that Easter eggs  are something that audiences love. And I love and appreciate. So the movie will be riddled with Easter eggs.”

20th Century Studios

“When you have the producer, writer, star of Deadpool, and the producer of Stranger Things, there is a high quotient of cultural literacy as far as, like, we love popular culture,” says Levy. “We like alluding to it and contributing to it. So I will just say that there are some pop-ups and some Easter eggs in Free Guy that are as juicy as anything I’ve ever done in anything.”

Comer says one Easter egg will steal the show. “There’s one huge one that is top secret, that everybody’s extremely excited about.”

Taika Waititi: Worth Watching on Your Day off

20th Century Studios

We didn’t get to see Taika Waititi on set. We still felt his presence though. His colleagues couldn’t stop talking about how funny he is. “Taika came in like a f***ing assassin on this movie,” says Levy. “He just rewrote the rules of comedy in the most dramatic way. It’s been a long time since he’s acted in something that he didn’t direct. And so for him, he had absolute freedom. He came in and was one of the greatest improvisers I’ve ever, ever seen. And I’ve worked with Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais, and some of the best. Taika’s next. He’s up there.”

Comer was equally impressed. “You could leave the camera rolling for 15 minutes and that guy would not stop,” she says. “But oh my God, his brain. It fascinates me.”

She loved watching Waititi so much she went in on an off day to watch him filming. “I did all in my power not to laugh at him because I was like, ‘Milly (who works for Waititi’s character) would not.’ I was like, ‘I’m not going to give him this power.'”

If the movie is as good as they think it is, the whole experience will be powerful.

Free Guy (finally) comes to theaters August 13.

The post 9 Things We Learned on the Set of Ryan Reynolds’ FREE GUY appeared first on Nerdist.

Ryan Reynolds

FX has announced a two season order for Welcome to Wrexham. The docuseries will follow Reynolds and McElhenney’s “purchase and stewardship” of the Welsh football team Wrexham AFC. The Red Dragons, founded in 1864, are one of the oldest professional football clubs in the world. But the team has fallen on hard times. They play in the National League, English football’s fifth tier.

The series will follow the team’s Hollywood owners’ efforts to improve the club’s standing. Which might be tough considering neither have any actual experience with soccer. Or even each other. But it looks like they’re going to become fast friends.

“Rob McElhenney has been an all star on Team FX for years and now has partnered with the formidable Ryan Reynolds to bring glory to the ‘Red Dragons’ in the docuseries Welcome to Wrexham,” said Nick Grad, President, Original Programming, FX Entertainment, in a statement. “Rob and Ryan will take fans inside the sport as never before, pairing their genuine love for the game with the welcome challenge of building on the heritage of this club.”

The show will also track “the dreams and people” of Wrexham. Fans from the working-class town in North Wales will be happy to know that despite their owners’ Ted Lasso-esque familiarity with the sport, FX says the pair are “serious about their investment in Wrexham, improving the club and doing right by the townspeople.”

The duo released a video about the series on Tuesday, but the real star is the Welsh translator.

McElhenney and Reynolds will executive produce the series with Nick Frenkel and John Henion. Broadwalk Pictures will produce.

We’ll have to wait and see whether or not the team produces on the field.

The post Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Soccer Team Gets Docuseries appeared first on Nerdist.

And even I have to admit it was more enjoyable than the actual movie.

While we very much doubt Reynolds’ St. Patrick’s Day viewing was his first ever of the film, it didn’t much matter. His insights and jokes about the much maligned movie were wildly entertaining.

Right off the bat, Reynolds really nailed what made Hal Jordan such a rogue we can root for.

As he also pointed out, Taika Waititi is in this film. (Though they both want us to forget that.) No movie can be that bad when he’s in it!

The family that makes hated movies together stays together.

Speaking of this scene, Waititi also chimed in with some memories about this awkward moment.

This is either an amazing joke about his co-star Mark Strong or Ryan Reynolds was real deep into the gin at this point.

One thing everyone can agree on with Green Lantern: it had an amazing cast.

Actually, there are many things about this film everyone can agree one.

Especially this. (The part about missing Michael Clarke Duncan. NOT all the CGI.)

Oh, yeah, the, uh, villains. Probably can’t avoid the giant headed elephant in the room. Or the floating yellow cloud either.

Genuine LOL here.

But for me the best tweet of the night came when he was done watching.

Exactly! I enjoy Green Lantern exactly because it’s not a total tragedy.When something is only a near tragedy that usually means everyone walked away with a fun story. Even if that storu definitely didn’t need a CGI suit.

Warner Bros.

The post Ryan Reynolds Live-Tweeted a GREEN LANTERN Watchalong appeared first on Nerdist.

Ryan Reynolds, noted good guy and craft gin enthusiast, celebrated Deadpool‘s fifth anniversary with another touching story that highlights his special relationship with fans. He shared some lost correspondence with a big fan of the Merc with a Mouth, including Reynolds’ reply that never got mailed. Probably because neither is real. But one thing that’s definitely true is that this whole “exchange” is really funny.

The former Green Lantern star took to Twitter to celebrate five years of donning Deadpool‘s red mask by posting a letter he received from a “fan” named “Hunter” (which we first heard about at THR) back in 2016. In his letter, a highly complimentary Hunter, who sounds like a five-year-old in one sentence and a PR veteran in the next, talks about his love of Deadpool. He also praises the film’s producers who “didn’t tone down” the film’s R-rating. The whole “English class assignment” might almost be believable if not for young Hunter signing off with a hope to get a beer with Reynolds some day.

There’s no question the actor’s “lost” response is a clever work of fiction. It’s full of wildly inaccurate predictions and comments that are obviously hilarious in 2021. That includes laughing at the thought of Disney and the MCU producing a Deadpool movie. (Which is going to happen.) Reynolds’ commitment to acting and acting alone, without any distractions from something like a small business. (Of which he now has many.) His wife Blake Lively giving birth to their second and “final” child. (They now have three kids.) And that we would get a new Deadpool sequel every two years “like clockwork.” (That clock is broken.)

That’s not all he’s wrong about. He also mentions his enthusiasm for famous failures like the Fyre Festival and the “Thanos” [sic] blood company. Reynolds also comments on Tom Brady’s guaranteed lifetime tenure with the Patriots, as well as his own love affair with beer and beer only. All before signing off that in 2020 there will be nothing better than “handshakes and hugs.”

Ryan Reynolds

For someone to be that wrong about literally everything they’d have to see the future. So clearly this letter was fake. Either that or Ryan Reynolds’ actually did get Cable’s Temporal Dial to work. If he did, forget about going back and sending this letter in 2016. Can he please go back and warn everyone about 2020 instead?

Featured Image: 20th Century Films

The post Ryan Reynolds Shares Definitely Fake DEADPOOL Fan Letter appeared first on Nerdist.

It was a weird day when Disney purchased Fox. The acquisition threw the status of a lot of films into question, including (maybe especially) Fox’s Marvel movies. Imagining Ryan Reynolds’ foul-mouthed take on Wade Wilson in the Disney realm seemed far-fetched. While Deadpool 3 is absolutely moving forward under the Disney umbrella and will become an R-rated MCU film, it could have been something else. Ryan Reynolds shared on Thursday afternoon that the pre-Disney Deadpool 3 would have been a road trip between Wolverine and Deadpool.

In other words, we could have had it all.

Hugh Jackman’s Logan alongside Reynolds’ Deadpool? It’s perfection. Jackman and Reynolds already have a long-running “feud” on social media. They regularly throw barbs at each other. We have no doubt that energy would translate well to their superhero counterparts. Imagine how many times Deadpool would have to stop for bathroom breaks and how perturbed Logan would be. And perhaps the best part of this cool as hell sounding film? Reynolds mentioned the story would have unfolded “Rashomon style.”

Named after Akira Kurosawa‘s 1950 film Rashomon, the Rashomon effect is all about the unreliable narrator. Viewers see an event from multiple, contradictory vantage points, and thus have no idea who is actually telling the truth. Watching Logan (whose last appearance was in 2017’s Logan) and Deadpool play something like that out? Yeah, it would have ruled.

Fox

We’re sure Deadpool 3 will be fun and full of the irreverence we love. However, we’ll have this might have been in the back of our heads.

Reynolds dropped this Deadpool bomb while posting about Bell Let’s Talk, a Canadian program that intends to break the silence and stigma around mental illness. However, many have criticized Bell, a telecommunications company, for making it more a marketing ploy than about mental health.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of The Jedi Mind, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post DEADPOOL 3 Was Originally a Wolverine and Deadpool Road Trip appeared first on Nerdist.

As much as we love him, Deadpool isn’t an ideal hero. Sure, Wade Wilson has certain laudable qualities. But when it comes to picking role models, you can definitely do better than the murder-loving Merc With a Mouth. However, when it comes to actors, it’s hard to find many than the man who plays him. Ryan Reynolds has consistently shown again and again that he is truly one of Hollywood’s good guys. And while we didn’t need one, he has provided yet another reminder why he consistently earns our admiration. He recently left a loving message for a young fan battling cancer.

Reynolds recently took time to reach out to 11-year-old Brody Dery (which we first heard about at EW). Brody’s mother Randi had posted a message for the actor online telling him about her son. The young man is fighting 3B Hodgkins Lymphoma, which he was diagnosed with a year ago, as well as Crohn’s disease. As a result his mother had to leave her job to take care for him, which has involved making nine hour trips to Vancouver for Brody’s treatments.

The pair has found comfort during this difficult time by watching the Deadpool movies. Brody’s mom says her son is a big fan of the character, which is why she reached out to Reynolds. Within just 24 hours they got a message from their fellow Canadian. And what a beautiful message it was.

“Brody, it’s Ryan Reynolds. I just heard a little bit about your story and I just wanted to send you this video and let you know that I’m thinking about you. And I’m sending you tons of love. And I’m sending you strength. Whatever strength I’ve got. Man, you have a ton of people in your life that love you so much. And I know you’ve been going through it. I know it’s been a challenge lately. But you know something, Brody, you’re just the man for the job. So I’m sending you lots of love. I hope I get to meet you in person one of these days. And hang in there. Okay pal, bye.”

20th Century

Randi told CTV News in Canada her son’s “jaw hit the floor” when he saw it. “He keeps saying, ‘I feel special – I feel like I’m the movie star.'” With the bravery Brody is showing, he sounds more like a hero to us.

As does the person who reached out to him. Because while Deadpool comes with some questions marks as a hero, Ryan Reynolds does not.

Featured Image: Ryan Reynolds

The post Ryan Reynolds Sends Special Message to Young Fan with Cancer appeared first on Nerdist.

2020 was the year none of us could go to a movie theater, and 2021 might be the year none of us have to. Netflix has announced it will be debuting a new original movie every week, with a slate of films that feature some of the biggest names in the business. That includes big budget blockbusters starring Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Regina King, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and a whole lot more. They’ll also be joined by some of the most renowned filmmakers in the world.

And with a wide range of genres, there will be something for everyone looking to stay on their couch.

Netflix is loading up on even more original movies—both domestic and international—to help keep its standing atop the streaming service mountain. The site announced the new slate in a video that features many of Hollywood’s biggest stars sharing what they love about movies and why the signed on to their project.

The collection of on-screen stars is staggering by itself. It also includes Chris Hemsworth, Sandra Bullock, Idris Elba, Meryl Streep, Zendaya, Amy Poehler, Jennifer Garner, Dave Bautista, Amy Adams, Jason Momoa, Jennifer Hudson, Naomi Watts, Jake Gyllenhaal, John David Washington, Melissa McCarthy, and Octavia Spencer.

Netflix

But Netflix also invested heavily behind the camera for its big push. The streaming service hired plenty of famous directors. That list includes Zack Snyder, Nora Fingscheidt, Joe Wright, Antoine Fuqua, Shawn Levy, Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman, Jane Campion, Paolo Sorrentino, and Adam McKay. Halle Berry and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debuts will also premiere on Netflix in 2021.

And the types of movies is just as long and varied—from horror and action, to zombies and cowboys, to both high school romances and terror. Subscribers of all ages and tastes will have plenty of options to choose from. (However, only a few have release dates already.) You can find the full list, categorized by genre, below.

What you won’t find though is a concessions stand. You might not have to go to the movie theater this year. But that means you will need to make your own popcorn.

Original 20201 Netflix Titles by Genre:

ACTION

Army of the Dead
Awake
Kate
Outside the Wire (January 15)
Red Notice
Sweet Girl

HORROR

Fear Street Trilogy
No One Gets Out Alive
There’s Someone Inside Your House
Things Heard and Seen

THRILLER

Blood Red Sky
Beckett
Escape from Spiderhead
Intrusion
Munich
O2
Night Teeth
The Swarm
The Woman in the Window

SCI-FI

Stowaway

ROMANCE

A Castle For Christmas
Fuimos Canciones
Kissing Booth 3
Love Hard
The Last Letter from Your Lover
The Princess Switch 3
To All The Boys: Always and Forever
Untitled Alicia Keys Rom-Com

DRAMA

Beauty
Blonde
Bombay Rose
Bruised
Concrete Cowboy
Fever Dream
Malcolm & Marie (February 5)
Monster
Penguin Bloom (January 27)
Pieces of a Woman (January 7)
The Dig (January 29)
The Guilty
The Hand of God
The Power of the Dog
The Starling
The White Tiger (January 22)
Unt. Alexandre Moratto Film
Unt. Graham King

WESTERN

The Harder They Fall

COMEDY

8 Rue de l’Humanité
Afterlife of the Party
Bad Trip
Don’t Look Up
Double Dad
I Care A Lot (February 19)
Moxie (March 3)
The Last Mercenary
Thunder Force

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

A Boy Called Christmas
A Winter’s Tale from Shaun the Sheep
Back to the Outback
Finding ‘Ohana (January 29)
Nightbooks
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Robin Robin
Skater Girl
The Loud House Movie
Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans
Wish Dragon
YES DAY (March 12)

MUSICAL

A Week Away
tick, tick…BOOM

Featured Image: Netflix

The post Netflix Releasing a New Original Movie Every Week in 2021 appeared first on Nerdist.

Disney

Collider spoke to Marvel’s top executive ahead of WandaVision‘s premiere on Disney+. During the interview, Feige was asked about Deadpool 3, which Bob’s Burgers writers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin are currently working on. The Marvel executive said Ryan Reynold’s is currently “overseeing” the script, which “will be rated R.” And while it won’t start filming this year due to Reynolds’ schedule, Feige said he is excited to bring a “very different type of character in the MCU.”

While this answers one giant question, it raises so many more. Since Deadpool already exists in Fox’s X-Men movies, do those stories now also exist in the MCU? Or will Deadpool cross over to this cinematic universe thanks to multidimensional travel? (Possibly even before his own film, via Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness?) And once he gets there, will Wade Wilson still be breaking the fourth wall? Could that be too weird for the MCU? And will Disney also release a kid-friendly version of the movie so their youngest fans can still keep up with every installment in the franchise?

We got one important answer about Deadpool’s future in the MCU. But there’s so much we still don’t know. And it should be a lot of f***ing fun to get those answers.

The post DEADPOOL 3 Will Be an R-Rated MCU Movie appeared first on Nerdist.

Alex Trebek passed in November, but his final Jeopardy! episodes are just now airing. The beloved host filmed these last episodes at the end of October. They were originally going to air over Christmas, but the episodes got pushed and Trebek happened to have the perfect message to begin 2021. Trebek started the episode with a message of unity and kindness—particularly towards those COVID-19 has affected. Watch:

“We’re trying to build a gentler, kinder society and if we all pitch in just a little bit, we’re going to get there.”

CBS

What a beautiful sentiment. I know Alex Trebek isn’t quite synonymous with Mister Rogers or anything, but when he shares these kinds of thoughts and remarks I can see the similarities. (Maybe not so much when Alex Trebek curses though). It’s such a simple thing to ask and hope for. Being gentle and kind is something we should all just be doing. But it’s nice to hear a figure like Trebek (or maybe his writers) emphasizing that it’s not only about us. We need to think of each other. And Trebek articulated that while undergoing his own battle with pancreatic cancer.

And in a more lighthearted moment from the episode, CBS shared a preview clip of an upcoming episode featuring Ryan Reynolds. The actor showed up to share a clue tied to his upcoming film Free Guy. Yes, it’s obviously an advertisement but it’s Ryan Reynolds and Alex Trebek together. Plus Trebek has a cameo role as himself in the video-game-focused film. Two delightful Canadians in one place, which I believe technically happens anytime two Canadians are together. You love to see it.

Alex Trebek’s episodes of Jeopardy! will air through January 8. Guest hosts will take up the mantle beginning on January 11.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of The Jedi Mind, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Alex Trebek Shares Heartfelt Message in Final JEOPARDY! Episodes appeared first on Nerdist.

There’s no doubt film star and alcohol salesman Ryan Reynolds has a gigantic heart. Despite his witty, often stinging retorts, he’s a charitable person and obviously loves his fanbase. Now, the Deadpool star has increased his heart size to 11 with a new “ugly sweater” video for a children’s hospital in Toronto.

Reynolds, who’s been producing, and starring in a bevy of commercials lately, just posted the above video to his YouTube channel. The actor made the video for The Hospital for Sick Children (or SickKids) in Toronto. The hospital, affiliated with the University of Toronto, is the largest of its kind in Canada, and provides research-intensive care.

The video itself, which comes via Laughing Squid, features Reynold’s handsome face and snippy quips. (We’d like to trademark Snippy Quipps as a cookie.) It also includes a very brief clip of NHL superstar, Auston Matthews, although Reynolds quickly cuts him off. To be fair, however, Reynolds is at least willing to share a little of his limelight with a puppy.

Ryan Reynolds

The highlight of the video is a gigantic, glowing sweater Reynolds and SickKids are now projecting onto the side of the hospital. The sweater consists of a whopping 5,000 lights, and is, perhaps, the prettiest ugly sweater ever. As a conceptual ugly sweater, at least.

Ryan Reynolds

Speaking of which, Reynolds has used his iconic ugly sweater to fundraise for SickKids before. The video below from 2019 features Reynolds’ hideous green and gold sweater on a series of patients at the hospital. And in 2018, he was tricked into wearing it to a gathering by Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal.

For those now inspired to donate to SickKids, here is a link to the hospital’s donation page. Up until December 24, or $100,000, the hospital says Samsung will also match donations. And while that’s great, we can’t help but imagine how much money Reynolds could raise if he sold a limited number of those ugly sweaters.

The post Ryan Reynolds’ Ugly Sweater Video for SickKids Is Adorable appeared first on Nerdist.

I don’t know if Ryan Reynolds loves being an entrepreneur so much as he loves making commercials. He has started multiple businesses under his Maximum Effort umbrella. That includes his own spirits company Aviation Gin and his own cellular service Mint Mobile. And each new endeavor has included some pretty great commercials, many starring him. Now he’s back with another funny ad for his new venture, the online dating service Match. It features the most iconic relationship of this god forsaken year—Satan and 2020. It’s a couple that deserves each other. But unlike this never-ending year of actual Hell, it also features a pleasant surprise. The commercial uses the new version of “Love Story,” the first rerecorded old song released by Taylor Swift.

Written by Reynolds himself, this Match commercial promises true love. True, horrible, complete nightmare for literally everyone else on the planet love. It follows the relationship between a giant horned Lucifer and the embodiment of 2020. We hope the dating service won’t actually pair up any literal demons with 2021. Hopefully the site’s admins will make sure its algorithm doesn’t lead to that.

Ryan Reynolds

As for the perfect use of “Love Story,” this is not the version Swifties have known and loved since 2008. Taylor Swift doesn’t own the rights to her original recordings, so she’s rerecording all of her old albums. This commercial is the first time she has released any of these new recordings. She promises more are on the way soon, though. Swift just made an exception for her fellow superstar friend.

It’s fitting that a commercial about Satan falling in love is one of the funniest commercials of the year. And, somehow, it makes sense it would be how the rerecorded version of “Love Story” was shared with the world.

So go ahead, Mr. Reynolds, keep making all the commercials you want. We enjoy watching them as much as you do making them.

The post Ryan Reynolds’ Silly Match Ad Depicts a Truly Hellish Couple appeared first on Nerdist.

Between making big budget movies, starting his own gin and cellphone companies, having a family, rallying an entire city to help rescue a teddy bear, and pretending to hate Hugh Jackman, you wouldn’t think Ryan Reynolds has time to do anything else. But apparently he really did get a hold of Cable’s Temporal Dial in Deadpool 2. The actor recently made time to record more than 400 personal videos for the crew of his recently completed film. And that included even recording messages for their pets.

On Instagram Reynolds posted a series of behind-the-scenes pictures marking the end of shooting on Netflix’s Red Notice, which will also star Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot. The movie originally began filming ten months ago but shut down because of COVID-19. To restart, the entire crew of more than 300 people had to fully sequester. That required an incredible sacrifice by everyone involved, “under the most intense circumstances every day.”

But Reynolds also recognized that was not something that only impacted them. All of their families and friends were also burdened by them having to live in a filming bubble in Atlanta. So to thank all of them too The Hollywood Reporter says Reynolds recorded over 400 message for the crew and their loved ones. While he didn’t mention that on his Instagram post, he did confirm the kind gesture to THR. “I made videos for their dogs. Morale was so low because everyone was in lockdown. They couldn’t go anywhere but work or the hotel. In some cases, their families were at home less than a mile away. I can’t imagine that kind of longing,” he said.

Disney

Reynolds, who also gave all the crew members a bottle of Aviation gin and a personal note, admitted the messages took a toll on him. But he said they were “worth every second.” Of that we have no doubt. Ryan Reynolds is a good dude. What amazes us though is how he found all those seconds to record them.

Seriously, does he have a time machine?

Featured Image: Universal

The post Ryan Reynolds Recorded More than 400 Messages for His Crew appeared first on Nerdist.