How Ryan Reynolds Really Feels About Being In The Marvel And DC Universes
Nowadays, we can thank our lucky stars that Ryan Reynolds is Deadpool. Long before the zany red Merc with a Mouth became a household name among the world's moviegoers, Reynolds was an absolute fanboy for Deadpool (via GQ). His love of Wade Wilson goes so deep that he was willing to portray the character even when he was sorely misrepresented in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." Likewise, part of the reason the current, more popular, "Deadpool" films even got made is because of Ryan Reynolds' support.
Quite famously, however, Wade Wilson was far from the first superhero Reynolds ever portrayed. Years before "X-Men Origins," Reynolds signed on to play Hal Jordan in "Green Lantern," although, most DC Comics fans would like to forget that film ever existed.
This puts Ryan Reynolds in a unique situation. He certainly isn't the only actor to appear in both Marvel and DC films, but he might very well be the only one who experienced the ups and downs of both worlds. As a result, how Reynolds really feels about being in the Marvel and DC universes might tell us something about them.
Reynolds definitely liked working on Deadpool more
It shouldn't be too much of a shock to reveal that of the various superhero films he has worked on, Ryan Reynold enjoyed the "Deadpool" films the most. From pre-production to final release, "Deadpool" had been an 11-year journey for both Reynolds and the filmmakers. So it makes sense that it was something he had become very attached to. In an interview with GQ, the actor even expressed feeling vindicated by the film's success.
Yet Reynolds wasn't quite so jubilant when he had to play the "lesser" Wade in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." Beyond being a smart-mouth with swords, that version of Wade is very different from the one in the comics and other movies — and not necessarily in a good way. This is why the "Deadpool" films were so keen on mocking this Wade both in the first film and its sequel, where Wade travels back in time to shoot his less-beloved self in the head. In the GQ interview, Reynolds described this lesser Wade as having "departed all canon and reason, and he wound up being this abomination of Deadpool."
Reynolds did not feel so great about Green Lantern
Suffice to say, Ryan Reynolds really enjoys being Deadpool — at least, he enjoys it when the character is done well. However, it seems as though he feels less fond of his "Green Lantern" role. In "Deadpool 2," Wade also uses his time-traveling powers to go back and stop Reynolds from ever accepting his role in "Green Lantern." On top of that, Reynolds is quick to criticize the film in interviews.
"With 'Green Lantern,' I don't think anyone ever figured out exactly what it was," Reynolds told Entertainment Weekly. "That isn't to say the hundreds of men and women didn't work their fingers to the bone to make it as good as poosible. [sic] It also fell victim to the process in Hollywood which is like poster first, release date second, script last."
That being said, Reynolds will also admit to there being good things about "Green Lantern." The film may have been a commercial and critical failure, but in 2011, he still considered it a major opportunity. It's also where he happened to meet his current wife, Blake Lively, so that probably added a shade of positivity to the whole affair. Regardless, it's clear that Reynolds doesn't have a high critical opinion of "Green Lantern" as a film, and even if he did, you can bet he still probably likes "Deadpool" more. So in the great war between two comic franchises, it's a safe bet that Ryan Reynolds stands firmly with Team Marvel.