Hugh Jackman has greenlit DEADLINE & WOLVERINE’s riskiest prank

As you know, Deadpool is no stranger to pushing the envelope with his humor, and within Deadpool and Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds takes humor to a new level with a joke that hits close to home… literally.

In one of the film’s signature fourth-wall breaking moments, Deadpool cracks a joke Hugh Jackmannof personal life, especially his divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness after 27 years of marriage.

According to the director Shawn Levythe joke, which references Wolverine’s signature shirtless style, came with Jackman’s full approval.

Talking to Evil director Jon M. Chu during Variety Administrators upon administrators series, Levy shared the behind-the-scenes story of the now-infamous moment.

“There’s a line where we say, ‘This is Logan. He’s normally shirtless, but he let himself go after the divorce. Deadpool is an equal opportunity violator, but we made that clear to Hugh before we exposed him to the crew and the world.

Levy then recalled that Jackman initially attempted some fourth-wall-breaking jokes during filming, but Reynolds quickly reminded him that Deadpool owns that territory. “The rule is that the other characters don’t notice that Deadpool breaks the fourth wall.”

For Jackman, the playful jab was just another reason to embrace his return as Logan, a role he had previously retired from. Levy shared, “It’s Deadpool’s kind of humor, and Hugh was on board with it from the beginning.”

The film didn’t just poke fun at Jackman. Jennifer Garnerwho reprises her role as Elektra, was also in on the joke when Reynolds’ Deadpool referenced her ex-husband, Ben Affleckand his stint as Daredevil.

Unlike Jackman’s improvised moment, Garner’s line was scripted, but Levy assured fans that it was approved in advance. “It was all in a playful spirit that everyone felt good about. Those jokes wouldn’t be in the movie if Hugh and Jen didn’t think they were funny.