Ryan Reynolds is at it again, humorously poking fun at his Deadpool 3 co-star and long-time friend, Hugh Jackman. The two actors, who have shared a playful rivalry for over 15 years, never miss an opportunity to tease each other, and Reynolds’ latest jibe is no exception.
On June 8, in celebration of National Best Friends Day, Reynolds shared the trailer for the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine movie on Instagram. His caption read, “I hope everyone gets to work with their best friend at least once in their lifetime. I know I can’t wait to finally do it,” accompanied by two heart emojis and the hashtag “BestFriendsDay.” Jackman, ever quick with a witty retort, responded on his own Instagram page, “I scratch his back. He stabs mine,” adding hearts to his post.
This exchange is just the latest in a long history of playful trolling between the two stars. Back in 2018, Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal tricked Reynolds into wearing an ugly Christmas sweater to a holiday party. Reynolds got his revenge in October 2019 with a hilarious birthday message for Jackman. Since the announcement that Jackman would reprise his role as Wolverine for Deadpool 3, their banter has only intensified.
In a joint interview with PEOPLE in May, Reynolds and Jackman discussed their enduring friendship, which began in 2008. Reynolds likened their relationship to a marriage, emphasizing the importance of mutual support. “I am genuinely rooting for you, all the time. I want you to win,” Reynolds told Jackman, comparing it to his relationship with his wife, Blake Lively. Jackman echoed this sentiment, highlighting the lack of secrets between them and the trust they share.
Even Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy has commented on their close bond, describing their bromance as “f—— real” in a September 2023 interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Reynolds’ humor isn’t limited to social media posts. During a visit to Wrexham AFC, the Welsh football club co-owned by Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Reynolds took the opportunity to poke fun at Jackman. After Wrexham’s 5-3 loss to Milton Keynes Dons, Reynolds shared a post on Instagram, joking about Jackman’s attendance. “Epic opening day at @wrexham_afc,” he wrote. “The @mkdonsfc played like heroes. Big thanks to @thehughjackman for his first and last day as ‘Admiral Vice Football Operations Ombudsman’ because I just found out you made the f**king title up.”
Fans of the two actors have come to love their playful feud. In July, Reynolds shared a photo on Threads of a Wolverine action figure, captioned “Comic accurate short king,” poking fun at Jackman’s on-screen character. Earlier in January, Jackman posted a tongue-in-cheek video on Instagram, begging the Academy not to nominate Reynolds for his performance in the Christmas movie Spirited. “Ryan Reynolds getting a nomination in the Best Song category would make the next year of my life insufferable,” Jackman joked, knowing they would be spending a lot of time together filming Deadpool 3.
Despite their constant ribbing, the two actors share a deep respect and admiration for each other. Jackman has often praised Reynolds’ dedication to his roles, even though Reynolds has opted out of performing his own stunts in recent years due to the physical toll. Reynolds, on the other hand, has always admired Jackman’s commitment to performing his own action sequences, even when it led to injuries.
As fans eagerly await the release of Deadpool 3, set for September 6, 2024, the playful banter between Reynolds and Jackman continues to entertain. Their dynamic, both on and off-screen, promises to bring a unique energy to the film, making it one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
Source: PEOPLE, Los Angeles Times, Instagram
