Ryan Reynolds Shares the Movie He’s Most Proud of Playing In
Ryan Reynolds has been a fixture on both the big and small screens since the 1990s, but his journey to Hollywood’s A-list was far from an overnight success. Throughout the early 2000s, he bounced between lighthearted comedies before landing a breakout role in the 2004 Marvel film Blade: Trinity.
While he spent years navigating the landscape of romantic comedies and action thrillers, it was ultimately the superhero genre that provided him with his most significant breakthrough. His history with Marvel is famously rocky, beginning with a controversial portrayal of Deadpool in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine—a version of the character that fans and Reynolds himself frequently mock.
He faced another setback with 2011’s Green Lantern, a project he has famously stated he entirely regrets making. However, everything changed in 2016 when he finally brought the “Merc with a Mouth” to life in the way he always intended, perfectly capturing the wise-cracking, fourth-wall-breaking antihero that audiences have come to adore.
Despite his deep connection to the Deadpool mask, Reynolds has surprisingly named a different film as the highlight of his career. Reflecting on a magazine cover for his 2021 hit Free Guy, the actor took to social media to declare it his all-time favorite film he has ever done.
He described the project as an absolute fastball of joy, a sentiment that clearly resonated with both critics and fans who propelled the movie to a massive $331 million global box office haul.
Love this #FreeGuy cover by @totalfilm. It’s my all time favorite film I’ve ever done. Just an absolute fastball of joy. #JodieComer 👕 pic.twitter.com/WH1uUnUeKI
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) April 28, 2020
The premise of Free Guy feels like a love letter to gaming culture, following a simple bank teller who realizes he is actually a non-playable character in a chaotic, Grand Theft Auto-style video game.
Rather than accepting his fate, he decides to rewrite his own code and become the hero his digital world never expected. The film’s success was bolstered by a powerhouse ensemble cast, including Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi, Lil Rel Howery, and Joe Keery, all of whom helped bring the vibrant, high-stakes universe to life.
As of this year, Reynolds remains one of the busiest figures in entertainment, balancing major blockbusters with his work as a producer and entrepreneur. He is currently preparing for the release of the action-adventure film Mayday, which is scheduled to hit Apple TV+ on September 4.
Directed by the duo behind Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the film stars Reynolds as a Navy pilot alongside Kenneth Branagh, a project the actor described as a unique opportunity where he finally gets to play the character in need of saving.
Beyond Mayday, Reynolds is heavily focused on the development of Deadpool 4, a move many industry insiders see as a way for the star to reconnect with audiences following a year of public scrutiny.
While he has hinted that he may eventually shift toward an ensemble X-Men project rather than another solo lead, the character remains his most reliable “pop culture currency.” Additionally, he is set to voice a character in the R-rated live-action/animated road trip comedy Animal Friends, alongside Jason Momoa and Aubrey Plaza.
Between his ownership of Wrexham AFC and his production company, Maximum Effort, Reynolds continues to prove that his influence extends far beyond his onscreen performances.
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