As a child actor who had the unique experience of working on major Hollywood productions like “Logan” and “Deadpool,” I can tell you that my journey in this industry has been nothing short of extraordinary. When I first started out, I was just a young girl with big dreams and an insatiable curiosity for the art of acting. But little did I know that I was about to embark on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and learning experiences that would shape my life in ways I could never have imagined.
As a longtime fan of both Deadpool and Wolverine, I can assure you that this story does not give away any major secrets or plot twists from those beloved comic book characters. However, I must warn potential readers who are not as familiar with The Acolytes, a group of mutant extremist villains in the X-Men universe, that there may be some spoilers ahead. Having followed the adventures of these characters for years, I’ve come to appreciate the intricacies of their stories and the ways in which they intersect. So, dear reader, tread with caution if you are new to The Acolytes!
Twenty-four hours following Dafne Keen’s heartbreaking portrayal of a Jedi’s death in “Star Wars: The Acolyte,” she returned to her iconic role from “Logan” in the productions of “Deadpool” and “Wolverine.”
When Keen was 11 years old, she portrayed Laura/X-23, the cloned child of Hugh Jackman‘s character Logan/Wolverine, in James Mangold’s highly acclaimed superhero western “Logan”. Due to the immense popularity of her character, there were discussions about a possible X-23 spinoff. However, these plans were put on hold due to the Disney-Fox merger which began nine months after the film’s release in March 2017. This merger also marked Hugh Jackman’s farewell to his iconic Wolverine role, making it harder for Keen to continue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But with the emergence of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga following the merger, there is now a possibility for any combination of Marvel characters to coexist.
In September 2022, Jackman and Reynolds revealed that Jackman would once again play Wolverine in Shawn Levy’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” movie. It’s highly likely that Keen’s character will join the cast as well. Although Jackman might not portray the same Wolverine who met his tragic end in his solo film, the bond between father and daughter mutants remains powerful enough to bridge different universes.
Shawn Levy shared an engaging tale with me. In it, he described how he pondered over a scene in which Deadpool discussed X-23 to Wolverine, musing aloud, “Perhaps we could just include X-23 instead?” According to Keen, as shared with The Hollywood Reporter, X-23 holds significant emotional significance for Wolverine, while Wolverine, in turn, serves as the primary emotional driving force for X-23.
From the start, Keen had been thinking about working with Mangold ever since her comeback to Marvel. He was the one who provided her with her first significant opportunity, surpassing numerous other contenders in the 10-12 age group during that time. The pair discussed this topic at Star Wars Celebration in April 2023. Keen attended to promote “The Acolyte,” while Mangold was present to discuss “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and his upcoming “Star Wars” project, titled “Dawn of the Jedi.”
At Star Wars Celebration, Jim and I ran into each other, and he mentioned having heard about my role in Deadpool. We talked about it then, but we don’t frequently communicate. He’s a great guy, I hope he enjoys Deadpool & Wolverine, though. I hold him in high regard creatively.
The movie featuring Deadpool and Wolverine turns out to be a touching homage to the past eras of Marvel films, notably those produced by 20th Century Fox. Consequently, the multiverse adventures depicted in the film take us by surprise.
Keen recounts her experience of having a FaceTime call with Shawn a week following her casting. He shared that all her scenes were with renowned Hollywood actors, but he couldn’t reveal their identities yet. After filming “Whistle” in Toronto, she was summoned back to “Deadpool.” She flew from Toronto on Thursday and reached London on Friday afternoon, then headed straight to the set. Upon arriving at Ryan’s trailer for a read-through and watching the initial 15 minutes of the movie, Keen felt utterly disoriented and exhausted due to jet lag. Surrounded by Hollywood elite in the room, she was both terrified and in awe. Sitting next to Hugh, she whispered, “Please look after me. This is unreal.” Despite her apprehension, everyone was amusing and kind, making the experience even more astonishing.
In a recent chat with THR, I shared my shock when Disney’s marketing crew unveiled my secret part a week prior to the game’s launch. I couldn’t believe they spilled the beans on something meant to be kept under wraps! As for “The Acolyte,” I was left in disbelief by Osha’s betrayal in the season finale. That backstabbing move really took me by surprise!
Well, you’ve been keeping a lot of secrets the last year and a half or so.
I have!
What was the timeline of The Acolyte versus Deadpool & Wolverine?
As a gamer, I found myself with a challenging schedule. My Acolyte character met an untimely end in episode five, so the very next day after filming my death scene, I received a call from Deadpool and Wolverine’s team for a fitting session. Simultaneously, I continued shooting scenes for The Acolyte. It was quite the juggling act!
Who was the first person to raise the subject of Laura’s return?
As a seasoned Hollywood insider with years of experience in the film industry, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with some of the most talented individuals in the business. One such encounter that left a profound impact on me was my conversation with Shawn Levy, a renowned director and producer known for his work on blockbuster films.
Manny Jacinto recently shared with me an instance where I called him “a stunt god” during Star Wars Celebration, but he felt the need to correct that description afterwards.
I did say that!
Did you ever get close to revealing your own classified information?
Each time they inquired about the direction of my character this season, I found it challenging not to express my enthusiasm for Jecki’s death scene. Characters who meet their end dramatically are always intriguing to me. I relish the notion of a badass exit, and my character certainly had one. I engaged in an incredible sword fight using double sabers, holding her own until meeting a sudden, tragic demise. I was eager to share this with everyone, almost giving it away multiple times. However, the “stunt god” comment was instigated by Charlie Barnett. I cannot shoulder all the blame for that; it was mostly Charlie’s doing, and I momentarily lost my composure. So, I apologized, but ultimately, Charlie Barnett is responsible for that slip-up.
While seated next to Charlie and Manny during the Acolyte press event, you concealed the fact that you appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine. As curious onlookers questioned you about the film, did Charlie and Manny suspect your involvement?
As someone who has spent years keeping a major secret in Hollywood, I can tell you that hiding my involvement in “The Acolyte” project from the public and even my closest friend Charlie was no easy feat. The anticipation was palpable whenever I did press for the last eighteen months, with every question revolving around Deadpool and Wolverine. But finally, the day came when I could share the exciting news – I was in Disney’s new production!
During our conversation at the Acolyte event, I mentioned that Leslye Headland had once envisioned Laura with a lightsaber. I then wondered aloud how surprising it was that roles from our childhood, like Deadpool and Wolverine, were still contributing to our successes today. You responded by saying, “Yes, she’s been giving me parts in projects.” Therefore, it seems that those iconic characters are the source of your plural roles.
As someone who has had the privilege of being a part of the “Logan” production seven years ago, I can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude and amazement when I look back on that experience. It was more than just a job for me; it was a transformative moment in my career.
You don’t require approval from anyone to make this move, but have you informed Jim Mangold in advance so as to prevent any rumors about your coming back and surprise him instead?
At Star Wars Celebration, Jim and I ran into each other. He brought up the topic of my role in Deadpool, and I confirmed it. We talked about it then, but we keep in touch occasionally. He’s an impressive guy, and his trailer for A Complete Unknown was released the day before. I’m genuinely excited to watch it. Contrary to what it might seem, I’m not just saying that to avoid discussing my part in it. (Laughs.) I sincerely hope Jim enjoys Deadpool & Wolverine. His creative work has always inspired me greatly.
In my opinion, I really enjoyed how accurately the movie portrayed Logan’s character. Surprised by the fact that Laura was introduced in the trailers before the premiere?
As someone who has gone through a similar experience of being unexpectedly revealed as part of a secret project, I can relate to the excitement and surprise that comes with it. In my case, I was preparing for flat viewings when suddenly, out of the blue, I received a series of confusing messages from a friend while they were traveling abroad. The poor connection made our communication jagged and frustrating, leading me to feel anxious and unsure of what was going on.
In the trailer, there’s a deeply emotional moment between Laura and Wolverine by the campfire. Laura tells Wolverine, “You were never the right one… until you weren’t.” Despite knowing that their characters and identities had changed, did this scene still carry an emotional resonance for both of you?
I’ve had the unique and bittersweet experience of portraying a character who reunites with her long-lost father, unaware that they share a bond. The heartache of losing my only paternal figure at a young age was compounded tenfold when I discovered he was alive and hadn’t known I existed. Yet, as we met under the most unexpected circumstances, something magical happened. He felt an inexplicable connection to me, and I to him. It was beautiful yet heartbreaking that we were almost father and daughter in every universe.
As a gamer, I once discovered myself in an unusual company during a game session. I hadn’t been privy to the list of participants beforehand; the identities of my future scene partners were shrouded in secrecy until the big day itself.
After being cast a week prior, I had a FaceTime call with Shawn. He mentioned cryptically that all of my scenes were with renowned Hollywood actors, but he didn’t reveal who they were. I remember thinking, “Okay, that’s interesting,” and carrying on. It wasn’t until a few weeks before filming started that I saw the costume designs with these famous faces. I was hopeful that it meant I would be working with them, but my first fitting after a cameo revealed it was someone else instead.
During the labor strikes, I produced a horror film titled “[Whistle].” We had a tentative contract in place, but “Deadpool” took priority since I had started working on it beforehand. So, I filmed in Toronto, only to be called back for “Deadpool.” I traveled to London on Thursday and arrived Friday afternoon. Without delay, I went straight to the set with my luggage. Upon arrival, Ryan and the rest of the team conducted a script reading and watched the opening scenes of the film. Being jet-lagged and in a room filled with Hollywood’s elite during this intense read-through was an otherworldly experience. I was petrified yet in awe. Surrounded by such talent, I felt small and vulnerable. However, everyone was amusing, gracious, and normal, making the moment even more remarkable.
When was your first proper reunion with Hugh?
During my first reunion, I encountered Hugh unexpectedly after a costume fitting session. Midway through the fitting, they told me that Hugh was eager to meet me next door. I was in the process of trying on jeans and had tags hanging from me, but I quickly agreed and dashed over. I found Hugh while the set was being approved, and we were both surprised and excited to see each other after a long time. He exclaimed, “Wow, you’ve grown!” I reminded him that I was only 12 when we last met. Our reunion was brief as we were both pressed for time.
As I prepared to depart, an unexpected halt occurred for my vehicle. The voices called out, “Shawn, Ryan, and Hugh want you to rehearse a scene with them right away.” Surprised, I agreed, so we moved to a small room and practiced the scene together. It was enjoyable and delightful. Later, a photograph of us was snapped during this session. Contrary to anticipation, our initial scene as a trio did not revolve around the campfire. Instead, it was an unscripted scene where Hugh and I had minimal dialogue, thus providing us with opportunities to converse off-camera, creating a heartwarming moment.
Instead of “Did they have to make new glasses, or did you rummage through your closet to find your box of Logan stuff?” you could ask:
(Laughing.) They created fresh pairs for me instead. We considered using the old ones’ design, but they appeared comically minuscule on my face. People responded with amusement, “That’s absurd! We won’t go with that.” Nevertheless, we fabricated new spectacles, and I was particularly thrilled about this aspect of the costume. Additionally, there’s a belt adorned with an X symbol that I really enjoy wearing.
Laura’s ground fighting and wire work had a very specific look back in the day, and Deadpool & Wolverine managed to have your adult self move in the way you once moved as a kid. Was recreating your Logan movement and style actually a priority from the start?
One of the initial steps was undergoing stunt training, where they evaluated my physical fitness. Fortunately, having completed Star Wars recently, I remained agile. The second significant interaction involved being asked to demonstrate my abilities, as our vision aligned with how my character would act. Additionally, I had the privilege of working with an exceptional double, Nadia [Hansell], and we collaborated on portraying her current persona.
We found Logan’s portrayal quite charming, giving her a few acknowledging glances. Her unique physicality is accentuated by the sounds she makes during her actions, and with her retractable claws, she brings an impressive amount of kicking and agility to the table, surpassing Wolverine’s capabilities. Yesterday, I even watched training videos for Logan and Deadpool to notice the subtle homages paid to Logan in certain scenes. One such instance is when she was on [Spoiler’s] back, stabbing him, which bore a striking resemblance to Logan’s fight with X-24 at the farmhouse. Overall, it was fascinating to observe how distinctively different I appeared yet how comparable the choreographed fights were.
When you see footage of yourself from Logan, what tends to cross your mind?
As I sat down to revisit some of my older projects as a child actor, I found myself feeling strangely detached. It’s an odd sensation, I explain to my fellow child actor friend, as I watch these pieces of work from the past five years. But when I press play on “Logan,” it’s like watching a home video.
Based on my understanding of Jecki’s character and her previous interactions with Osha (Amandla Stenberg), I cannot help but ponder what her emotions would be if she were to witness the unexpected alliance between Osha and her executioner at the end of the season.
I think she’d feel a little bit hurt. It’s a bit back-stabby of Osha. I don’t love that from her, but I do think Jecki would understand because she was a very compassionate person. There’s a very lovely scene where you can see that Osha does care about Jecki. She’s with Stranger, and she was like, “You killed Yorde.” And he was like, “A man who didn’t hesitate to turn you in for a crime you didn’t commit.” And then she went, “You killed Jecki!” And he was like, “That was one-sided.” So I think she would understand, but from her point of view as a Jedi, she’d also be like, “He’s being manipulative. He’s from the Dark Side.” So she’d be compassionate, but she’d also be like, “What the fuck? Get away from Osha.”
***
Deadpool & Wolverine is now playing in movie theaters.
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2024-07-26 16:56