‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ director Shawn Levy on crafting a ‘patient arc’ of ‘redemption’ for two iconic Marvel heroes
Though his career has spanned a vast array of genres, Shawn Levy now has the hindsight to know that all of his film and TV projects share a common thread of emotionality. “They are all sort of unabashedly warmhearted and humanist,” he admits. So when Ryan Reynolds recruited him to direct, write, and produce the third “Deadpool” film, Levy’s preferred style of storytelling wasn’t the most obvious fit for a movie about a notoriously potty-mouthed and violent action hero. But the creative process clicked into place after receiving a call from Hugh Jackman, who wanted to take part in the fun. “With Wolverine joining this story…Ryan and I really felt almost like a lightning bolt of clarity that this would be a movie about redemption,” reveals Levy. Watch the video interview above.
With the clarity that “Deadpool 3” would become “Deadpool and Wolverine,” Levy focused on the trauma that these two iconic Marvel superheroes share. “Both Wade and Logan are carrying shame, are carrying self-loathing,” explains the director, noting two qualities that form an unlikely sense of brotherhood between the two men. This dynamic allowed the director to craft a film that retained Deadpool’s iconic crass fourth-wall-breaking humor, but also take a more introspective look at the hearts of the two main heroes. “This would be a movie about friendship, but it would have this very kind of patient arc,” elaborates Levy, “from animosity, to guys who have no business going on a road trip together, who want to kill each other, to the realization that they also kind of have a love between them.”
More from GoldDerby
WATCH How ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ sound designers found the ‘rhythmical, lyrical’ pace of comedy
The concept of redemption also extended to the many surprise appearances from defunct superheroes. The majority of “Deadpool and Wolverine” takes place in “The Void,” a Limbo-esque realm where artifacts and people from “pruned” movie universes reside. The setting provided the perfect opportunity for Levy to loop in characters from the discontinued Marvel franchises from 20th Century Fox. “As we thought about legacy, we thought about what are some of the Marvel characters, the heroes who never quite got their ending,” says Levy. Cue Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade, and Chris Evans as The Human Torch.
Every star that Levy and Reynolds contacted to reprise their roles said yes. The director believes that these actor’s willingness to join in and bring their dormant heroes to the Disney MCU speaks to an appreciation of what a “Deadpool” movie signifies. “It’s the promise that you could really come in and play, and have fun, and give the audience just a fastball of joy,” explains Levy, “which is ultimately what this movie is built for.” It’s also why the massive box office performance and positive fan reaction has meant so much to the creators. “That is the north star of making theatrical movies,” he elaborates, “to connect with and satisfy an audience. And so I think a lot of people said yes because they wanted to sign up for the spirit of that.”
Levy earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture as a producer of “Arrival.” He is also a four-time Emmy nominee as a producer of “Stranger Things.”
SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
Best of GoldDerby
Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
