While DEADPOOL has continued to kick all sorts of ass both commercially and critically, it's still remarkable that the film exists at all, especially considering how the character was handled during his first appearance in Gavin Hood's X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE. The first X-MEN spin-off famously made a mess of the character (they sewed his mouth shut!) but Gavin Hood is very thankful that Deadpool was given a second chance. While speaking with Cinemablend recently, Hood commented on DEADPOOL's success and why the character finally works.
I think the character works so well now, because the character is allowed to be who the character really is, unencumbered by, you know, PG-13 requirements and a great deal of marketing debate. I think the fact that the filmmakers kind of made that film below the radar — and I happen to know a little bit, only because my production designer from Ender’s Game, Sean Haworth, is a fantastic designer, was the designer on Deadpool. I remember when he was making the film, it was just a little bit more below the radar initially. And more credit to the filmmakers and to Ryan, that they took control of their character and got on and let Ryan do the film. Deadpool is a motor mouth, foul mouth character, and it’s very difficult with these big movies to, when you have to work within certain parameters that are set by [studio heads].
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Back when Ryan Reynolds was cast as Deadpool in X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, it was with the expectation that a Deadpool spin-off would soon follow should the character receive a warm reception. Despite Reynolds doing what he could with the character's limited screen-time, it seemed very unlikely that we would ever get the Deadpool film we all wanted. Gavin Hood seems relieved that not only did Ryan Reynolds get a second chance, but that the film has proven to be a huge success.
You know, when he did the little cameo bit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, it was exactly what we’ve been talking about. It was the studio attempting to plug in a few characters and test the waters. But now he gets to make his own movie and he did it with great courage and with the full force of his personality, so he deserves every success. I think he’s done really well, and I think it’s fantastic that they had the courage to just go ahead and make the film.
Gavin Hood's latest film, EYE IN THE SKY, was just released to theaters on April 1st and you can read own Chris Bumbray review of the film from the Toronto International Film Festival right here.
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