Today, we’re diving into the highly-anticipated showdown that’s been on every Marvel fan’s radar—Deadpool vs Wolverine, which premiered on the 26th of July. This film has set the comic book world on fire, uniting two of Marvel's most beloved antiheroes –  the wisecracking mercenary and the gruff mutant – in an epic battle. Buckle up, in today’s episode of Now You Know, we uncover some fascinating trivia and behind-the-scenes stories that make this movie a must-watch!

1. First up, let’s talk about Hugh Jackman. Known for his iconic portrayal of Wolverine, Jackman initially declared he was done with the role after Logan hit the screens in 2017. But, lo and behold, he’s back! Jackman felt a strong gut feeling to return, particularly to work alongside Ryan Reynolds. To make sure there were no conflicts with Logan’s storyline, he even consulted with Logan’s director, James Mangold. Talk about being a true professional!
2. Speaking of Reynolds, did you know that he and the filmmakers took an interesting approach to deliver the film’s creative quotient. What they did is, instead of accepting a larger sum from Disney, they requested a lower budget. Why, you ask? To recapture the same inventive spirit that made the original Deadpool in 2016 such a hit. After all, the best ideas often come from having endured adversity.
3. Now, let’s get to a long-awaited treat for fans. Wolverine finally appears in his iconic yellow and blue costume in this film! The decision to opt for this outfit was praised by both the film's director, Shawn Levy, and Jackman himself. The costume had been a subject of fan anticipation for over two decades since Wolverine’s first live-action appearance in X-Men (2000).
4. Now, here’s a heartwarming piece of trivia. During the film’s production, Ryan Reynolds fulfilled a terminally ill fan’s wish. Jay Fear, a supporter of Reynolds’ Wrexham FC got to meet his hero and visit the sets of the film. It was a touching memory for Jay and his family and a heartfelt moment for Reynolds as well.
5. Deadpool vs Wolverine also marks several firsts: it's the first R-rated Marvel Cinematic Universe film and the first R-rated movie distributed directly under the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures banner. Most notably, the first trailer broke records with 365 million views in 24 hours.
6. You may know that this is the 10th time Jackman slips into his Wolverine avatar, following a series of X-Men and standalone films. But did you know that Jackman had to work towards regaining his Wolverine physique since he had slimmed down for a stage production prior to working on this project. Now that takes character committment to another level!
7. The film is packed with nostalgic and humorous nods. Deadpool sports a lighter red costume inspired by the 1990s comics, and there’s even a cheeky bus ad paying tribute to Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee. Plus, Peggy, Britain’s ugliest dog, makes her debut as Dogpool! Still need a reason to hit the multiplex? Okay, we’ve got one more.
8. In a nod to the multiverse theme, the film features various Deadpool and Wolverine variants. One of the highlights includes Deadpool interacting with a short version of Wolverine, a fun reference to the character’s canonical height from the comics.

We hope you enjoyed this deep dive into Deadpool vs Wolverine. Stay tuned for more interesting podcasts where we take you behind-the-scenes of your favourite films and shows. Until then, keep your capes and masks handy!

- Written by Apurva Dutta

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