Madonna helped inspire the new “Deadpool & Wolverine” movie in more ways than one. During an interview with , Hugh Jackman prompted his co-star Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy to share the story behind how they were able to clear the song “Like a Prayer” for the movie during an in person meeting with the singer. “It did involve a personal visit to Madonna where we showed Madonna the sequence where ‘Like a Prayer’ would be used,” Levy said.
Reynolds interjected to share that Madonna doesn’t often license the usage of “Like a Prayer” in particular. “It was a big deal to ask for, and certainly a bigger deal to use it,” Reynolds said. “We went over and met with her and showed her how it was being used and where and why.
” Levy said the moment “felt like we were meeting royalty,” and Reynolds even admitted that he asked a person who worked with the singer if he was allowed to address her as just "Madonna." Despite his worry, the actor said meeting her was “one of the great thrills” of his life. “And she gave a great note!” Reynolds said.
“She watched it — and I’m not kidding — she was like ‘You need to do this, this, and this in this moment,’ and damn it if she wasn’t spot on.” Levy said that based on Madonna’s input on the sequence, they “went into a new recording session with 48 hours to do this one note,” calling it a “great note” that ultimately “made the sequence better.” While it’s unclear if the “Vogue” singer is personally a fan of the action comedy film franchise, Levy said that is a fan of “Deadpool” and that his fan status “definitely was an advantage.
” Reynolds chimed in with his standard humor, telling interviewer Jess Cagle, “I wasn’t really feeling brave like, that, Jess. I wasn’t feeling like ‘So, Madge..
.’ I was just lucky to be there.” The highly anticipated Marvel action movie will premiere on July 26.
Reynolds initially teased the film and in September 2022. Months later, in December 2022. The movie was , but was delayed Levy told in October 2023 that at the time of the interview he didn’t know that the ultimate release date of “Deadpool & Wolverine” would be.
“Certainly, the actors’ strike and the long pause in production has put that release date in true risk,” he said. “We’ve shot half the movie. I’ve edited half the movie.
We’re dying to get back to work and get this movie out next year.” Francesca Gariano is a New York City-based freelance journalist reporting on culture, entertainment, beauty, lifestyle and wellness. She is a freelance contributor to TODAY.
com, where she covers pop culture and breaking news..
