Dear Hollywood: Be Like Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman
'Deadpool & Wolverine' stars show path forward for A-list success
What does Ryan Reynolds think about Vice President Kamala Harris?
What’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” co-star Hugh Jackman’s take on J.D. Vance’s cat lady comments?
Not a clue? That’s no accident.
While many stars have thrown their support behind Harris in recent days, Reynolds and Jackman have spent the last few weeks in pure promotion mode.
Funny videos. Red carpet premieres. Chomping insanely hot wings for our bemusement.
Few actors can measure up to Reynolds in the marketing department. He lifted the “Deadpool” franchise up on his shoulders in 2016, understanding the character lacked mainstream recognition and a budget comparable to a Superman feature.
So Reynolds improvised, creating hilarious videos and memes to introduce Deadpool to America. Spoiler alert: It worked.
He’s also a key player behind Mint Mobile, leveraging his charm and celebrity clout to boost the company’s fortunes.
Reynolds’s unconventional marketing strategies propelled the company’s growth, culminating in its recent $1.35 billion acquisition by T-Mobile. The deal was announced in March 2023 and finalized by May 1 after receiving regulatory approval. Reynolds will remain a key figure, ensuring the brand retains its distinct appeal within T-Mobile. Estimates suggest Reynolds could net $300 million from the sale since he owned around 25% of the company.
‘Greatest Showman?’ Jackman Fits the Part
Meanwhile, Jackman’s “Let’s put on a show” moxie has powered him for more than two decades in Hollywood. He’s as versatile as he is charming, a professional chameleon who keeps political matters out of his celebrity banter.
The two generate the kind of goodwill that’s increasingly rare these days. They may be the most likable stars not named Keanu Reeves.
They’re also dedicated to making movie-goers happy. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is an R-rated mash note to anyone who feels like a kid again watching superhero movies. No woke nonsense. Just pure entertainment.
Their positive brands didn’t push the film over the top by itself. The film is the third entry in a popular franchise, and pairing two beloved MCU characters proved irresistible.
It sure helped, though.
Why does this matter in 2024? Look around.
Biden Economy, Streaming Transition Pummel Tinseltown
Hollywood is having a summer moment thanks to the shocking success of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Despicable Me 4” and “Inside Out 2.” Beyond that, the industry is undergoing seismic shifts across the board.
Streaming platforms are struggling to make ends meet. Wannabe blockbusters like “The Fall Guy” crashed and burned earlier this year.
The industry can no longer insult half the country and still giggle all the way to the bank. Just ask the team behind “Twisters,” a film that avoided Climate Change lectures that might alienate wary audiences.
Even The New York Times is admitting the obvious.
Stars won’t stop being both political and/or divisive. Some, like Tom Hanks, do so in ways that are neither angry nor disruptive. Others? Not so much. And it shows.
The less said about White Dudes for Harris, the better.
Actors should consider the Ryan and Hugh approach to fame. It might just add a few years to their careers (and zeroes to their bank accounts).
I think your take is spot-on. I LOVED Deadpool & Wolverine. It took me back to my early teens devouring Marvel comic books and counting the days until next month’s edition came out. The flick was hilarious, fast-paced, fun action scenes, insane cameos, and a healthy dollop of pathos to go with it. Brilliant. But I wouldn’t have gone to see it in the theatre if any of the stars had been online or on TV prattling about how they despise America or shown contempt for Americans. What are their political opinions? Don’t know, don’t care. And so I’ll keep supporting them and their work.
Over the top violence,gratuitous homosexual innuendos,tired saving the world from disaster nonsense,lead by two hollywood mega millionaire liberals…that’s entertainment!
The cynical side of me says it was clearly the abundance of homosexual innuendos and jokes that should be the lesson for Hollywood
My wife and I went to see Deadpool & Wolverine. I wasn’t that thrilled, I’m pretty much over the whole superhero thing. It’s been done to absolute death…but she wanted to see it, being a big fan of both actors (I wonder why?).
I have to say I enjoyed it thoroughly. As you said, no woke nonsense, entertaining and fast paced.
Here’s the thing though…we haven’t been going to the theaters much lately because most of the product they were selling sucked. I still remember taking my kids to the Matinees on Saturdays for $4.00 each.
So, we went at 11:30am on Saturday, there were maybe 10 people in the theater. Two tickets, a medium popcorn, medium drink (we share those) and a package of M&Ms for each of us (our traditional fare): $64.
Half of that was the ticket price. $16 per person.
That was the 11:30am matinee price.
And they wonder why people don’t go to the theaters. I can tell you for sure we won’t be going back any time soon.
And even at that exorbitant price, you’re still rolling the dice on who might sit behind you to ruin the entire experience, since theaters have shown that they won’t do anything about disruptive patrons. The lack of Hollywood’s awareness as to why ticket sales keep spiraling down is surprising, to say the least.
That’s why I wait till most movies come out on blu-ray. For the price of a single ticket I can buy a hard copy, watch it whenever I want, as often as I want, on my home theater.
I don’t mind waiting a couple months.