"There Was Always The Thought Of Killing Deadpool:" Ryan Reynolds Reveals He Almost Killed Off Wade Wilson In Deadpool & Wolverine

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine star Ryan Reynolds recently explained that Wade Wilson/ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool was not originally supposed to live through the film’s events. In addition to Reynolds, the movie also featured veteran Marvel star Hugh Jackman as Logan/James Howlett/Wolverine. Though it is set in the multiverse of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine is less ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s MCU debut than it is a farewell to the Fox X-Men films both тιтle characters originated from. As the third ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool movie, it also serves to conclude the Merc With a Mouth’s arc.

In an appearance on The Box Office Podcast, Reynolds explained how Wade’s story almost ended differently and why it didn’t:

There’s always the thought of killing ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool in the last one. Again, it’s like listening to the movie. Me, [editors] Shane Reid, Dean Zimmerman, and [director] Shawn Levy must have reworked that third act for 45 days straight.

The actor continued by explaining that the choice to use Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” made the film’s third act work for him. He stated: “Finally figuring it out — I am such a needle-drop person, but I’m really working hard to embrace score. It was [composer] Rob Simonsen who really helped us get there by blending score, needle drop, and all these things that gave you that feeling we were working for.“

Beyond Wade’s ending, Reynolds also unpacked why the ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine was treated as a broader ending for the older X-Men films. He “liked the misdirect for audiences, thinking [ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool] was entering the MCU,” including the excitement over Jon Favreau’s cameo towards the beginning of the film. However, its writers “looked back instead of forward.” Reynolds felt that “it was emotionally resonant to have a send-off, an acknowledgment of what got us to here; warts and all, the movies that didn’t work, the movies that worked.”

What Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Comments Mean

Ryan Reynolds Previously Said Wade’s Arc Was Over

Previously, Reynolds discussed how the ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool trilogy told a complete story for Wade and why he doesn’t see himself writing another sequel with the antihero as the lead. Per Reynolds, “centering ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool works best if you take everything away from him and put his back against the wall.” As a creative, giving Wade another similar story for the “fourth time feels a little iterative and redundant.” However, he would consider reprising the character as a side role, noting that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool is “a great supporting or ensemble player.“

Between his initial desire to kill Wade off and his reluctance to take on another leading turn, Reynolds seems to be prioritizing storytelling. Because he has undergone his full arc, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool doesn’t have a lot of depth to be further explored, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still show up as a supporting character.

Our Take On Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Comments

There’s Still Room For ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool In The MCU

Wade Wilson and Logan in the Void in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine

While Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool is a fan-favorite character, he did have three whole movies to develop, and giving him a break would make sense. This is especially true given his irreverent humor, which allows him to easily slot into an ensemble as the comedic relief. It would be disappointing if Reynolds never played Wade again after ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, but that doesn’t mean he has to headline another solo film.