As a seasoned gamer and avid Marvel fan, I must confess that the revelation of Tony Stark (Iron Man) being considered for the pivotal scene between Deadpool and Happy Hogan in “Deadpool & Wolverine” left me both intrigued and disappointed. While it would have been a spectacle to witness Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Iron Man, I can understand why Reynolds and Levy ultimately chose Favreau’s Happy Hogan for the role.
Similar to many outstanding Marvel films, Deadpool & Wolverine is rich with tributes to its predecessors. In the case of this blockbuster superhero movie, one notable instance was an early and brilliant scene featuring Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan, one of the most memorable cameos. However, it was surprising to learn that this scene initially might have starred a different MCU icon instead of Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson.
In this crucial moment, taking place near the time when “Avengers: Infinity War” was released in 2018 (or according to the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline), Ryan Reynolds’ character Wade embarks on a journey to become one of Earth’s powerful heroes. This quest is part of his personal growth and search for a role in society. Interestingly, while the 2024 movie reveals that it’s Happy who delivers the grim news to the profane anti-hero, Reynolds mentioned during the commentary track on the “Deadpool & Wolverine” home release that he and director Shawn Levy experimented with around 65 variations of this scene. One of these alternate versions even featured Tony Stark.
Initially, we sought someone who embodied the essence of a classic Marvel character, and our first idea was Iron Man, specifically Tony Stark. However, it turned out that Jon Favreau would be free on a particular date, which we were able to secure. With this arrangement, we had the flexibility to film with John, and if needed, we could also include Tony Stark and Happy Hogan at a later stage, as we left some space for that possibility.
It’d be fascinating if Robert Downey Jr., five years following his dramatic, valorous demise in Avengers: Endgame (in real life, not the MCU), had returned to portray Iron Man again. Such a scene would have been monumental. Nevertheless, it’s understandable why Reynolds and Levy opted for Happy engaging in a crucial dialogue with Deadpool instead of the well-known “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.
As Reynolds later explained, following their initial viewing of the scene along with Favreau’s performance, neither he nor Levy ever revisited it again.
The Happy Hogan stuff was so good, and Jon was just such a beautiful storyteller and presence in the movie, so perfect for Deadpool to be meeting him and not the Marvel Godfather. … It really just felt perfect to use and we never revisited any other version.
Moreover, according to Shawn Levy’s commentary, it was more suitable to have Happy in the particular scene rather than characters like Tony Stark, or even Nick Fury, who were once considered. This choice aligned well with Wade’s character development.
It seems as though Happy, similar to Wade, may not embody the quintessential hero, but there’s no denying his inherent goodness. Given this, who could be more fitting to offer guidance to Wade than someone who has discovered their purpose in a film where Wade is actively seeking his own path.
Despite understanding the rationale behind the decision, I can’t help but imagine how electrifying the meeting at Avengers HQ would have been with Robert Downey Jr. and Ryan Reynolds exchanging witty banter. The same goes for Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, which might have resulted in some hilarious “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”-style jokes.
But who knows, maybe we’ll get to see RDJ and Reynolds cross paths when the Academy Award winner takes on the role of Doctor Doom in some of the upcoming MCU movies. That is, if Deadpool remains Marvel Jesus for the foreseeable future.
Right now, you can enjoy “Deadpool & Wolverine” digitally, while its physical version will be available on store shelves starting October 22nd.
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2024-10-08 01:08