Ryan Reynolds defended comedy acting as a ‘very difficult’ craft after a social media user appeared to question why the actor was cast in DiversityActors on Actors Series.
“Andrew Garfield talks about playing a husband and father (whose) wife decides to forgo cancer treatment and Ryan Reynolds talks about playing Deadpool,” X the user wrote in a deleted comment, per Diversityin which they also shared full list of pairs for the December installment of the store’s series.
In response, Reynolds, 48, wrote a lengthy message about the similarities and differences between comedy and drama acting, beginning by applauding Garfield, 41, and Florence Pugh for their performances in We live in time.
“Right. Andrew is a genius. He and Florence are magic together in WE LIVE IN THE TIME. They are heartbreaking and charming, and spend the entire film in a cruel act of humanity and limitation,” Reynolds wrote. “And yes, I’m Deadpool, BUT I’m going to take a second and speak in defense of comedy. Dramatic work is difficult. And we’re also meant to SEE that it’s hard, which is one of the reasons it feels intuitive and effective.”
James Devaney/GC Images; Monica Schipper/Getty Images When Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were making their upcoming movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, a ping pong table sent to them by Reynolds’ wife, Blake Lively, helped them come up with comedic ideas. “Boy, did we play some ping pong,” Reynolds, 47, said during an interview with Vanity on Monday, June 24 (…)
He continued: “Comedy is also very difficult. But there’s an added dimension in that it’s designed to look and feel seamless. You are intentionally hiding the stitching and stitching. I think both disciplines are beautiful. Both work beautifully together. Comedy and drama feed on tension. Both thrive when they subvert expectations. Both thrive on genuine emotion. Both are deeply subjective. Your favorite comedy can be Host. Mine could be Lars von Trieris Melancholy.”
Social media users applauded Reynolds’ statement, with one writing: ‘Yes! This is why I love comedy. It’s a discipline that requires so much thinking, and yet it turns out to be the complete opposite. The drama is also amazing, but there can be even more drama in a comedy show when it’s done right.”
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool
Cover imagesAnother said: “As someone who loves comedy more than drama, I agree that both deserve respect.”
Reynolds and Garfield’s interview will be the first of DiversityThe new season of Actors on Actors. Other pairs include Ariana Grande and Paul Mezcal, Nicole Kidman and Zendaya, Saoirse Ronan and Selena Gomez, Angelina Jolie and Cynthia Erivo and more.
Reynolds, who participated in the 2016 Deadpool and its 2018 sequel, teaming up with longtime friend Hugh Jackman for the third installment in the superhero franchise, which hit theaters in July.
Deadpool and Wolverine – which featured numerous cameos including Jennifer Garner, Wesley Snipes, Chris Evans and Reynolds’ wife, Blake Lively — has grossed over $1 billion worldwide since its release.
In November, Reynolds revealed that he and Jackman, 56, along with Deadpool 3 director Sean Levywould be reuniting for a new film that “writes itself, for Hugh and Shawn to do this is not Marvel.” Reynolds and Levy, 56, previously worked on the films A free man and The Adam Project.
