Ryan Reynolds, ‘Deadpool’ and awkward on-set tension: “I think it’s weird that he hates me”
Ryan Reynolds gained widespread acclaim for his portrayal in Deadpool, particularly praised for seamlessly transitioning between comedic moments and more emotionally resonant scenes. His performance captivated audiences, showcasing a depth of charisma that surprised many. Yet, off-camera, there appeared to be some turbulence.
The first Deadpool live-action movie hit theatres in 2016 under the direction of Tim Miller, marking his directorial debut after the character’s appearances in Fox’s X-Men franchise. Anticipation ran high among fans leading up to the premiere of Deadpool, intrigued by the potential of the character’s offbeat persona.
As expected, the movie became a box office sensation, raking in more than $782million on a modest $58m budget. It even clinched the spot as the ninth highest-grossing film of 2016 and shattered several records, including becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of its time. This success paved the way for a sequel, Deadpool 2, in 2018, with director David Leitch at the helm.
T.J. Miller, who portrayed the sardonic bartender Weasel in the franchise’s first two movies and has been entangled in numerous controversies throughout his career, described the uncomfortable scenes he had to endure with Reynolds as they depicted a high-tension moment.
“As the character, he was, like, horrifically mean to me. But to me. As if I’m Weasel,” he explained on The Adam Carolla Show. “He was like, ‘You know what’s great about you, Weasel? You’re not the star, but you do just enough exposition that it’s funny, and then we can leave and get back to the real movie.'”
Miller continued, adding that his bluntness came as a surprise, not only to him but to the crew, too. “I just kind of listened and thought it was weird, and then I got off stage because they were like, ‘Cut…?,'” he said, concluding: “Would I work with him again? No. I would not work with him again,” he said, adding, “I sorta wish him well because he’s so good at Deadpool, and I think it’s weird that he hates me.” Needless to say, Miller is not included in the cast for the upcoming Deadpool movie.
However, even if Miller was right in his suspicion about Reynolds’ delivery, there are other aspects of his life that seem more significant. For instance, in 2017, he faced allegations of sexual assault from a woman, which he refuted. A year later, he was accused of harassing a fellow actor on the set of his HBO series Silicon Valley, leading to his departure from the show. Additionally, in 2018, he was arrested for purportedly issuing a false bomb threat aboard an Amtrak train.
