Ryan Reynolds has opened up about the original plan to give Deadpool a much darker send-off in the upcoming film, Deadpool & Wolverine, revealing that the character’s death was seriously considered during development.
In a recent interview with The Box Office podcast, Reynolds, 48, discussed how the creative team behind the highly anticipated Marvel film nearly took the story in a drastically different direction.
“There’s always the thought of killing Deadpool in the last one,” Reynolds admitted. “Me, Shane Reid, Dean Zimmerman, and Shawn Levy must have reworked that third act for 45 days straight.”
The Deadpool franchise star revealed that the idea of Wade Wilson’s death remained on the table for quite some time before the tone of the film shifted—largely influenced by a key action scene set to Madonna’s Like a Prayer. That musical moment changed the entire atmosphere of the ending.
“A scene like that made everything click,” Reynolds noted. “I’m a huge fan of great music cues, but it was composer Rob Simonsen who helped us find the perfect balance between score and soundtrack. It created the emotional impact we needed.”
He went on to describe Deadpool & Wolverine as an “emotionally resonant” project, emphasizing that the film’s tone and character arcs were carefully crafted over many weeks of edits and rewrites.
Marvel Studios ultimately decided against killing off the beloved anti-hero, likely due to Deadpool’s growing popularity and his potential for future appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Reynolds playfully referred to the character as a “cheat code,” hinting at Deadpool’s versatility and comedic value in the MCU.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reynolds is already preparing for another Marvel outing where Deadpool will join forces with three or four X-Men characters in a supporting role, further expanding his presence in the franchise.
Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine premiered on July 25, 2024, to widespread acclaim. The film not only delivered explosive action and humor but also brought deeper emotional layers to the fan-favorite character.
