WAIT, HOW IS WOLVERINE HERE?
Things started to really take shape when Jackman signed on that fall, however. It would mark the first time that the characters would be together in a movie since 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In the years since, Reynolds and Jackman have staged a very tongue-in-cheek, very funny “feud” with one another on social media, dancing around the idea of sharing the big screen again.
The dream seemed to have died after Logan and Jackman’s retirement as Wolverine. But death is never exactly final in the multiverse, and, they promised, this film would not interfere with Logan.
“It’s a really interesting duo,” Levy said. “They’re built for huge conflict with each other because they’re so different individually. But that makes for a very interesting story, because the best two-hander stories, whether it’s Midnight Run or 48 Hours or Planes, Trains And Automobiles, yes, it’s littered with conflict. But it’s ultimately about something more as well and that’s what audiences will see.”
The dynamic was also fuelled by the real-life friendship between Levy, Jackman and Reynolds that goes back a decade off-screen and includes films like Free Guy and Real Steel.
“The real benefit of being friends off-set is that you can try crazy stuff without fear of falling. Because some of it won’t work and that will be momentarily embarrassing, but if you’re among friends, it’s okay to make a fool of yourself in the pursuit of something surprising and something unexpected,” Levy said. “This movie is filled with moments, both comedic and character-based, that we didn’t expect and were the result of a freedom that came from being friends.”
IT’S SUMMER. NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED
The Marvel multiverse has gotten a bit overwhelming in recent years for the more casual fans who may have seen most of the films but only dabbled in the Disney+ offerings that regularly introduce new concepts and characters that eventually find their way into the films.
Deadpool & Wolverine, for instance, uses the Time Variance Authority (TVA), a major part of Loki but new to the movies, to help get Deadpool into the MCU. But Levy promises that enjoyment of Deadpool & Wolverine requires no binge-watching or studying beforehand.
“I was a good student in school. I’ll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies,” Levy said.
“I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world. But I didn’t want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research.”
THERE WAS A SILVER LINING IN THE STRIKES
Like many productions, Deadpool & Wolverine was affected by the strikes. It was “pencils down” when the writers walked out, including Reynolds who is credited on the script, and a complete shutdown when the actors went to the picket lines.
“The impact was real,” Levy said. “For me as the director, and the producer, the multi-month pause happened right in the middle of filming. All I could do was edit and review the footage. But it taught me about my movie, and it really revealed what was working and what the movie wanted to be.”
When they resumed shooting post-strike, Levy wasn’t panicked about rushing to the finish. Instead, he felt like he’d come back with a deeper knowledge of what they needed to do.
“It really focused our work and I think improved our work in the second half,” Levy said. “That’s not a luxury we ever get in live-action filmmaking.”
