In 2012, Ryan Reynolds teamed up with filmmaker Tim Miller to create a CGI test reel for the character Deadpool, aiming to present a comic-accurate version of Wade Wilson to 20th Century Fox executives. Despite their efforts, the studio showed no interest at the time, shelving the project. This meant fans had to wait longer for a faithful adaptation, especially after the widely criticized and inaccurate portrayal in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
The 2014 Leak at San Diego Comic-Con and Fan Reaction
At the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con, the Deadpool test footage suddenly leaked online, quickly gaining enthusiastic responses from fans eager for a proper Deadpool film. The unexpected buzz captured Fox’s attention, leading to the studio ultimately greenlighting the project two years later. This shift paved the way for what would become a major success in both box office and critical reception.
Ryan Reynolds Confesses to Leaking the Footage
Ryan Reynolds had long hinted at his involvement in leaking the footage, but he recently confirmed the truth himself. He revealed that although the footage was created earlier, the studio initially declined to move forward with the project. Reynolds explained his deep passion for Deadpool, describing the character as a “fringe character” and expressing his excitement about Deadpool’s self-aware, meta-comic style.
He admitted:
“I’d shot test footage for it a couple years before, and the studio just didn’t want anything to do with it,”
Reflecting on the leak, he said:
“Some a**hole leaks it online and I’m like, you know, looking at the guy in the mirror brushing my teeth,”
“And I’m like, ‘Dude, what have you done? This could be punishable by law!’ But the internet forced the studio to say, ‘We’re gonna make this movie,’ and 24 hours later, that movie had a green light.”
The Success that Followed and Future for Deadpool
This candid admission explains one of the key moments that catalyzed the Deadpool franchise’s growth. Ryan Reynolds’s risk paid off as the first Deadpool film, made on a $58 million budget, earned $780 million globally and became a cultural phenomenon. It also spawned sequels including the record-setting Deadpool & Wolverine, a collaboration with Marvel Studios that expanded the character’s presence in the superhero universe.
Looking ahead, Reynolds is slated to reprise his role in Avengers: Doomsday and is involved in an X-Force project linked to Marvel’s post-Secret Wars plans. These developments underscore that Reynolds’s connection with the anti-hero Wade Wilson remains strong, with the potential for many more appearances in future cinematic stories.
