What Deadpool And Wolverine Looks Like Without Special Effects

As a seasoned film enthusiast with a soft spot for superhero movies, I must say that the behind-the-scenes look at “Deadpool & Wolverine” is nothing short of astounding! The sheer amount of work and creativity that goes into making these action-packed scenes look effortless is truly mind-boggling.

In each installment of the “Deadpool” franchise, the level of production quality has surpassed its predecessor. The initial “Deadpool” film was a small-scale action movie that achieved great success on a budget of $58 million. However, the second film raised the stakes with a budget of $110 million, resulting in larger, more intricate, and star-studded action scenes featuring numerous cameos.

In 2024, we presented “Deadpool & Wolverine,” marking the grand entrance of the Mercenary into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in style – and by style, we mean a jaw-dropping $200 million production budget! Just imagine the spectacle of pairing Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) with Logan (Hugh Jackman), but visually, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is simply colossal. It boasts some of the most intricate and advanced CGI work in the franchise to date. To give you a sense of the effort put into this film’s creation, here are a few behind-the-scenes peeks at what “Deadpool & Wolverine” looks like without special effects.

The army of Deadpools was real except for Baby Deadpool

In the scene where Cassandra Nova (played by Emma Corrin) calls forth a horde of different Deadpool characters to battle against Deadpool and Wolverine, you might think that since there were so many Deadpools visible on screen (with some variants not even making an appearance!), some must have been digitally created. However, surprisingly, most of them were actual people.

In a special effects video showcase published by Framestore, it turns out that multiple Deadpool actors in different suits were actually present during that specific scene, such as Welsh Deadpool and Golden Age Deadpool. The exception was Baby Deadpool, who was digitally created instead of being played by a live actor. Apart from some real-world elements like a bus and the city backdrop (with a few practical props scattered around), the only other digital enhancements to the scene were the portal through which the characters entered.

Matthew Macfadyen had to pretend a hand was phasing through his face

Matthew Macfadyen is accustomed to depicting discomfort and melancholy – it’s one of the factors that have garnered him significant praise for performances like Mr. Darcy in “Pride & Prejudice” and Tom Wambsgans in “Succession.” His knack for convincingly conveying prolonged unease has proven him to be an ideal choice for roles such as Mr. Paradox in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” However, the film also required him to stretch beyond his comfort zone, imposing unique challenges on him as a performer.

In the scene where Cassandra Nova appears to pass her hand through Paradox’s head, it is shown in the Framestore reel that this was achieved by filming Macfadyen as usual and then adding the effect using CGI later. This meant that Macfadyen had to act as if his face were being touched by a hand, which was likely quite difficult to portray convincingly, even for an award-winning actor like him who has won two Emmys.

Dogpool’s performance was augmented through CGI goggles

Mary Puppins, or Dogpool as she’s also known, was iconically portrayed by Peggy, a Pugese dog who won Britain’s Ugliest Dog title in 2023 and later transformed her notoriety into worldwide fame. Strenuous scenes of Dogpool were filmed using Peggy as a reference and then creating a CGI model that mirrored her movements, while other scenes showcased the real Peggy herself.

In some scenes where the actual Peggy appeared, VFX artists enhanced her performance by adding Dogpool goggles to her character. As shown in the Framestore reel, these goggles allowed the filmmakers to widen Dogpool’s eyes with CGI and have greater control over its gaze, blending Peggy’s impressive physicality with more precise directional focus for Dogpool.

Hugh Jackman’s body was really that chiseled

It isn’t surprising when movies use CGI to add muscle to actors, and with Hugh Jackman’s physique in “Deadpool & Wolverine” looking like it was chiseled by a Renaissance sculptor, you might have questioned if that was truly his real-life appearance. In fact, it was.

The Framestore demo illustrates that in the scene where Wade and Logan gain the power from the matter and antimatter chambers, the only computer-generated enhancements were the stream of intense red energy running through Logan’s physique and the rips appearing on his skin. However, it’s worth noting that Jackman’s muscles themselves, including the prominent veins on his arm, were real and not digitally altered. Admittedly, the intense training routines used by Hollywood actors like Jackman to achieve such muscular physiques for films like “Deadpool & Wolverine” could be considered a unique type of visual effect in their own right.

The Time Ripper was a practical set

One possible paraphrase for “The Time Ripper — i.e., the cubic device with timeline-destroying capabilities owned by the Time Variance Authority and eventually hijacked by Cassandra Nova — is one of the most awe-inspiring examples of production design in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ Its borderless cube form, the intricate tangle of wires and Reset Charges comprising it, and the bizarre display of energy it emits within the subway station all come together to create the sort of visually stunning spectacle that blockbusters are known for.

Not only was it visually stunning, but the Time Ripper was a real, glowing cube made of glass and metal parts. This was confirmed by the Framestore reel, and Emma Corrin actually handled this prop during Nova’s climactic scene. Once again, this underscores the unparalleled impact of practical effects.

The fight scenes involved a lot of rigging

As a hardcore gamer, I’ve gotta say, when it comes to the Deadpool franchise, the standout feature has got to be their mind-blowing and exhilarating action sequences. The skill of the stunt team is front and center in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” delivering some of the most intense and graceful fight scenes yet. What you might not know is that behind the scenes, a bit of CGI magic was used to help pull off some of those jaw-dropping stunts – mainly by camouflaging the rigs.

The Framestore reel demonstrates that during Deadpool’s initial brawl against Time Variance Authority agents trying to apprehend him, a stunt performer’s acrobatic backward flip and subsequent fall onto his back was executed using rigging. Essentially, he was hoisted upward and pulled backwards, and the VFX team then skillfully concealed the cables, showcasing exceptional collaboration between departments.

The forest fight was seemingly shot on a soundstage

An intriguing detail about the initial woodland battle scene is that not every part was filmed on-site. Surprisingly, instead of Vancouver, Canada, being represented by another location, the production actually ventured to Black Park in Buckinghamshire, U.K., to capture some of the forest scenes. However, a look at Framestore’s footage unveils that at least one shot was taken inside a soundstage.

The scene you’re referring to features Deadpool battling multiple TVA agents while the camera revolves around him. This shot seems to employ video wall technology, reminiscent of the StageCraft tech used in “The Marvels” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” However, it’s important to note that this isn’t confirmed as StageCraft, as no StageCraft team from Industrial Light & Magic is credited for the film.

Stunt visualization was done using a Deadpool mask

It’s commonly recognized that stunt performers are the true champions of action movies, yet many don’t grasp that a significant amount of their work goes unseen on screen. Beyond the scenes trimmed in editing, stuntmen often carry out intricate routines off-camera. These performances aren’t included in the final movie, but serve as visual guides for actors, VFX teams, and even other stunt performers during filming.

As an example: Prior to filming, the scene where Deadpool impales a TVA agent with Wolverine claws was practiced by two stuntmen. The finished product closely mirrored their rehearsed movements, except that the stunt performers didn’t injure one another during practice. Intriguingly, the stuntman who enacted Deadpool’s moves wore a red t-shirt and a Deadpool mask during the rehearsal.

The Void combined digital and real environments

Similar to Framestore, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) unveiled a revealing VFX showcase for their work on “Deadpool & Wolverine,” packed with intriguing content. For instance, this reel demonstrates that the Void sequences were filmed by blending digital backdrops with real-life settings.

The landscape shown as the Void in the movie is based on the actual terrain of Pitstone Quarry, a chalk quarry in Buckinghamshire. However, during the scene where Wolverine and Deadpool are walking and assessing each other, many aspects of the Void were added digitally, particularly changing the green, forested backdrop of Pitstone Quarry into an expansive, barren expanse.

A practical giant 20th Century Fox logo was used

Despite the heavy use of CGI to construct the Void, there were certain aspects that you might have thought were computer-generated, but weren’t. The ILM reel contains an intriguing disclosure about this: The scene where Deadpool spins his gun and cocks it while standing in front of a collapsed 20th Century Fox logo, as you may guess, was indeed filmed against a blue chroma key screen… however, the actual 20th Century Fox logo was genuine.

It seems clear that during the filming of this particular scene, either Ryan Reynolds or the actor in the Deadpool costume was standing before a genuine 20th Century Fox logo that had been strategically placed and made to look like it was partially buried underground. Let’s cross our fingers that somebody had the opportunity to stand atop it for a shot from above at some point.

Only the katana and Deadpool’s head were animated in a key shot

Despite Ryan Reynold’s exceptional physical and vocal portrayal as Deadpool, it’s important to note that the mask conceals much of his potential facial acting. We understand from behind-the-scenes VFX footage revealing what the “Deadpool” films look like without CGI, that Deadpool’s mask is digitally animated during post-production to enhance his expressive qualities. In the upcoming film “Deadpool & Wolverine,” a particular shot required a unique blend of CGI with another such application.

In the intense battle between Deadpool and Wolverine in the Void, a particular scene showcased Wade grabbing his sword and striking at Logan again. This sequence employed Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) for two specific reasons: Firstly, it brought Wade’s mask to life on screen, and secondly, it crafted the katana in his right hand, as that particular sword was not a real prop during this shot.

A digital Hugh Jackman was used in several scenes

Instead of focusing on physical appearances and weapons, it’s worth noting that in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” certain scenes are entirely computer-generated imagery (CGI) creations of the characters themselves. Digital versions of both Deadpool and Wolverine were crafted to facilitate specific sequences, and their authenticity is so convincing that you might not have realized you weren’t watching live actors on screen.

In the depicted moment, it’s not real-life actor Hugh Jackman who assumes a wolverine-like posture and dashes swiftly on all fours at Deadpool; instead, the Wolverine portrayed is entirely computer-generated imagery (CGI). This includes the reverse shots focusing on his face. The skill of the animators shines through as they managed to create a CGI model that appeared strikingly human-like during those brief instances.

The road through the Void looks a lot less intimidating without CGI

Similar to the Time Ripper, the Void is another impressive creation in terms of production design. Few places in superhero films have ever appeared as lifeless, as bleak, or as apocalyptic as the Void does. The work of the production design team isn’t the only thing we should acknowledge; the VFX team also played a significant role, as demonstrated by an extract from the ILM reel comparing the final look of the Void with the actual location where it was filmed.

Instead of using a space-travel scene for Nova’s convoy speeding through the void, they filmed it on an ordinary dirt road near Pitstone Quarry. In reality, this area wasn’t at all apocalyptic; instead, it was lush and scenic. It’s surprising to think that this peaceful setting transformed into the barren, brown landscape of the convoy’s route through the void.

The cast all had to react to an imaginary Alioth

In the scene at Nova’s lair, all the actors playing different roles – main characters, extras, and stunt performers – needed to collaborate to deliver a convincing ensemble act for the shot where Alioth, the fearsome protector of the Void, appears to assault them. As demonstrated in the ILM reel, this scene was filmed on a studio set, with the depiction of Alioth swooping down onto Nova’s base being achieved through background keying techniques.

In this scenario, everyone on-screen responded differently to what seemed like a fictional entity named Alioth. Some showed signs of panic, others froze in bewilderment, and some appeared to be gearing up to confront it. Among them, Emma Corrin was tasked with delivering a nonchalant exit from the scene, which might have been the most demanding acting feat within that specific frame.

The structure around the giant Ant-Man corpse was real

Instead of using the giant Ant-Man’s deceased body as a gathering place for Nova and her associates, the concept lacked practicality – even though it would have been intriguing to witness Marvel constructing an enormous cityscape reminiscent of Metropolis for that particular scene. Nonetheless, the surroundings built around the Ant-Man corpse were authentic, as evidenced in the ILM reel.

In the scene showing Ant-Man’s helmet opening to reveal Cassandra Nova, several parts like the supporting metal rails, scaffolds, the jawline of the helmet, and the central staircase were built in reality. However, only the shoulders and the top of the helmet, which appeared on screen, were fully digital, although CGI artists did create a model of the entire set, even including its practical elements.

Emma Corrin and Ryan Reynolds had to do some precise physical acting

Just as Matthew Macfadyen was required to act as if an invasion by Nova’s hand through her phasing powers was happening on his face, so too did Ryan Reynolds have to do the same. What makes the shot of Nova phasing through Deadpool’s head unique is that it transpires with both Ryan Reynolds and Emma Corrin remaining in full view of the camera throughout the procession.

This implied that the actors needed exceptional precision in their performances. Not only did Reynolds and Corrin need to convincingly portray a level of discomfort beyond human comprehension, and Corrin had to realistically suggest inserting their hand, but both performers also had to synchronize their movements seamlessly so as to give the illusion that Nova’s hand was tangling with Deadpool’s head and exerting a strong grip on it.

The fight against Nova’s henchmen involved a complex mix of live-action and CGI

What’s captivating about CGI showcase reels is their ability to reveal the numerous levels of visual effects hidden within a single scene, even effects that viewers may not be aware of while they’re watching.

To begin with the initial scene of the Resistance battling Nova’s minions, it showcased multiple dimensions: Initially, real-life effects such as sparks, gunfire, and smoke were present around the set. Secondly, computer-generated elements like laser blasts, force fields, extra smoke, and Gambit’s (Channing Tatum) glowing bo staff were added to the environment. Lastly, entirely computer-animated minions participated in the action. Witnessing these layers blend together in the ILM reel is akin to observing magic unfold in real-time.

Trucks were parked where Ant-Man’s helmet would be

From an aerial perspective in the ILM demo, it appears that although the filmmakers didn’t construct a colossal Ant-Man corpse for “Deadpool & Wolverine,” they certainly created something incredibly intricate instead. The set utilized for Nova’s base scenes was immense; not only were the majority of metal railings, stairs, and scaffolds actual structures, but the entire area needed to be encased by towering blue chroma key walls where Ant-Man’s arms would be digitally added later on.

On set, the intricate design produced a hilarious and captivating outcome. Beyond the on-screen action, the section representing Ant-Man’s entirely computer-generated head and shoulders hid backstage personnel, vehicles, and equipment with no connection to the scene itself. Consequently, production trucks and vans were visible where Ant-Man’s helmet would appear in the finished movie.

Performers really did jump for the inter-dimensional portal scenes

The climactic battle between the Resistance and Nova’s henchmen ends with Deadpool and Wolverine making a hasty escape through a dimensional portal – a common feature in the MCU since “Doctor Strange,” and even more so since it sparked the franchise’s most iconic scene in “Avengers: Endgame.” By now, we’ve witnessed numerous MCU characters moving in and out of portals, leading us to wonder – just how many times do the actors themselves physically leap?

In the thrilling world of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” as the ILM reel unveils, Deadpool and I (Wolverine) seemed to leap through a gateway, transitioning from an intricately designed “skull’s interior” set into a chroma key pit. With our backs facing the camera, it’s uncertain whether it was Ryan Reynolds or Hugh Jackman taking those daring leaps, but one thing is for sure – someone jumped!

2024-11-25 07:31