Finding authentic friendships like Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in Hollywood is a refreshing change, especially in an industry often seen as staged and competitive. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, though they were first rivals on-screen, have built an off-screen friendship that’s both unique and entertaining.
Their camaraderie has become legendary, with a delightful mix of affection and “feud,” charming audiences worldwide. Over the years, they’ve taken their funny rivalry to social media, constantly poking fun at each other in hilarious posts that have only made their friendship more entertaining to watch.
The beginnings of a legendary connection between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman
Before Deadpool was even a glimmer in Marvel’s cinematic eye, Ryan Reynolds was still rising through the ranks of Hollywood. Reynolds and Hugh Jackman first crossed paths in 2007 while filming X-Men Origins: Wolverine in Sydney, Australia. Reynolds joined the set feeling a bit out of his depth. As he walked through the trailers feeling uncertain, he heard someone call his name, and it was Jackman, who welcomed him with open arms, instantly setting the tone for their amazing friendship. Reynolds told People,
I heard my name, ‘Ryan!’ in between these trailers as I was walking. And it was you.
Just the fact that you knew my name meant so much to me. And you came over, you gave me a big hug and you said, ‘Welcome aboard. It’s all going to be fine. We’re going to make you comfortable.‘
For Reynolds, the first meeting was a crucial moment. Jackman’s friendliness had an enormous impact and they forged a relationship that followed him throughout his professional life. Reynolds frequently talks about the importance of that kind greeting, and it’s obvious that their friendship, which began so well, has only gotten stronger with time.
A playful rivalry sparks as Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds start trolling each other
Fans really started enjoying the friendship between Jackman and Reynolds when the two began poking fun at each other on social media. It all kicked off with Jackman playfully teasing Reynolds about his then-wife, Scarlett Johansson.
Jackman would joke that Reynolds needed to be on his best behavior with her, which set up a funny, lighthearted vibe between them. What began as harmless joking soon turned into a full-blown “feud” filled with hilarious jabs and playful rivalry. This made their friendship even more entertaining for fans to watch.
Over the years, their playful teasing became a signature part of their friendship. Both on social media and in interviews, Jackman and Reynolds constantly found chances to make fun of each other. Their back-and-forth kept getting funnier and more elaborate, filled with fake rivalry, clever digs, and laugh-out-loud posts.
Ryan Reynolds and his quest to reunite Deadpool and Wolverine
Reynolds had always dreamed of bringing Deadpool and Wolverine together in a movie, something fans had been excited about for a long time. Even after Jackman retired from his Wolverine role following Logan, Reynolds didn’t give up. He tried everything from social media posts, interviews, and jokes to convince his friend to step back into the character. Reynolds told Variety in 2017,
I have no idea if I can change his mind.
It’s the audience: I would exclusively exploit that relationship to get Hugh back for another one.
Jackman remained playfully hesitant, but the fun they had discussing the idea only fueled the public’s anticipation. Eventually, Jackman agreed to return as Wolverine for Deadpool 3 with Reynolds, making fans ecstatic about seeing their favorite frenemies finally share the screen in a way that showed their real-life friendship.
Birthday wishes with a twist from Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds
Over the years, Jackman and Reynolds have turned holiday greetings and birthdays into hilarious trolling opportunities. In 2018, Jackman attempted to record a heartfelt message for a fan on Twitter, only for Reynolds to hijack the moment by singing “Tomorrow” from Annie and that too dressed as Deadpool. Jackman’s amused reaction and Reynolds’s amusing behavior showed the affection they had for each other hidden behind their teasing.
On another occasion, Jackman celebrated Reynolds’s 42nd birthday via a social media post by offering a hug, only to mockingly state that it was “just this once“. According to People Jackman wrote,
Because I’m told that I AM THE NICEST GUY and you’re NOT. @VancityReynolds … I will let you hug me. Just this once. On your birthday.
Reynolds shot back with his humorous response, calling Jackman “a monster” and joking that he was actually from Milwaukee, not Australia. These playful exchanges, posted online, delighted fans and added fuel to their so-called “feud.“
When Valentine’s Day or Christmas rolled around, fans could count on these two to create funny content around their “truce.” They even went so far as to call off their “feud” temporarily to make ads for each other’s companies, Jackman for Reynolds’s Aviation Gin and Reynolds for Jackman’s Laughing Man Coffee. Of course, each tried to make their ad better than the other’s, and the rivalry continued in the most lighthearted way.
The social media truce that led to amazing ads
In February 2019, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman surprised fans by officially ending their playful “feud,” which they announced with matching social media posts. To celebrate their newfound “truce,” they each promised to create ads for the other’s business.
Reynolds, known for his quirky humor, agreed to make an ad for Jackman’s coffee company, Laughing Man Coffee. In return, Jackman would create a special ad for Reynolds’ Aviation Gin. Both hinted that they planned to outshine each other, keeping a playful edge in their friendship.
The pair shared a photo on their accounts, where they were seen smiling and shaking hands calling a truce. Reynolds’ caption read,
As a gesture of goodwill, I’m gonna make a beautiful ad for his company, Laughing Man Coffee. Can’t wait!
However, Reynolds couldn’t resist adding his signature twist later. He reposted a version of the photo on his Instagram Stories, this time edited with a few dramatic props; a grenade in their hands, Reynolds holding its pin in his mouth, and Jackman’s Wolverine claws visible in the background.
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds as frenemies continue the fun feud
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman can’t seem to keep away from their hilarious “feud.” It all kicked off again when Jackman injured himself during his one-man show, and jokingly blamed Reynolds for the incident. Jackman posted a picture on which the following was written,
The first time I’ve played #wolverine … and, actually bled. Clearly, it’s @vancityreynolds fault,
While appearing together on The View to promote their movie Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, both past “Sexiest Man Alive” winners, decided to recreate their famous cover photos. This playful idea came up when panelist Sara Haines joked that maybe their “feud” stemmed from a rivalry over their magazine covers.
Jackman laughed it off, saying that they’ve had to go through “a lot of therapy” for it but admitted they can’t help but strike their poses whenever they meet. At one point, Ryan tried to recreate his past pose, realizing it was a lot more uncomfortable than he remembered!
This banter didn’t end there. When John Legend earned the title in 2019, Hugh Jackman posted a playful congratulatory video. In it, he cheekily hinted that while the magazine usually nails its choice, sometimes they may get it a bit off too. It was all in good fun, adding another layer to the ongoing friendly “feud” that fans love.
The secret “sauce‘ behind their friendship
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have one of Hollywood’s most entertaining friendships. They often jokingly call it a “faux-feud” that fans can’t get enough of. They might poke fun at each other on social media, but behind the scenes, their bond is genuinely special. This friendship dates back over 17 years to when they first met on the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Since then, they’ve become like family, standing by each other through both the fun times and the tougher moments.
When it was revealed that Wolverine would be joining Reynolds’ Deadpool series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans grew even more excited about their friendship. Fans were excited to watch how their chemistry would play out on screen as a result of their much-anticipated collaboration. But their bond extends beyond their professional lives.
Reynolds said in an interview that their relationship, which is based on respect, trust, and the capacity to make one another laugh, seems somewhat like a partnership. They even like taking frequent walks together to catch up on life casually and genuinely.
Reynolds said to Jackman according to People,
I think the secret sauce to a long-lasting Hollywood friendship is not too dissimilar to having a partner or a marriage.
These simple, real-life moments keep their friendship grounded, giving each other a safe space to talk about anything. That level of loyalty and understanding, they say, is the “sauce” behind their long-lasting friendship.
A Deadpool and Wolverine team-up that delighted fans
The on-screen reunion of Reynolds’ Deadpool and Jackman’s Wolverine has been a long time coming, and fans were thrilled. This new movie brought together their iconic characters in a blend of humor, action, and heart. The filming was full of laughter, especially when Jackman joked about the complicated design of his new Wolverine suit.
Their friendship, which started on the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2007, shone throughout the making of Deadpool & Wolverine. Jackman initially retired Wolverine after Logan in 2017, but after watching Reynolds’ Deadpool in action, he felt inspired to bring his character back for one more adventure. The timing was perfect, as both actors were ready to dive back into their roles, and the film turned out to be a fantastic mix of action and comedy. With Deadpool and Wolverine navigating their quirky dynamic as they fought to save their world, nothing could go wrong.
After many years apart, working together again felt like a dream come true for both Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds. Teaming up with director Shawn Levy, the trio had endless laughs on set. They even called themselves the “three amigos.”
Reynolds, who helped write parts of the script, loved watching Jackman deliver a powerful monologue in one of the movie’s most memorable scenes. According to Marvel, Reynolds said,
I’m usually the Chatty Cathy, but I loved getting to watch Hugh feel every syllable of that speech, just watching it executed at that level.
As someone who wrote that speech, I was having an out-of-body experience. I was like, I’ve never felt so good about anything in my life while still trying to stay in character. Watching him work like that was one of the highlights of my entire career, probably.
This performance added a fresh layer to Wolverine, showing a deeper side of the character. Meanwhile, Jackman admired how dedicated Reynolds was to capturing both Deadpool’s humor and his underlying vulnerability.
The end result was a movie that perfectly blended comedy with genuine, heartfelt moments.
Shenanigans and laughter show the real chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman
While filming, Reynolds and Jackman couldn’t stop cracking each other up, thanks to their natural humor-filled chemistry. They joked about the challenges of wearing super suits, with Jackman lamenting the maze-like design of his yellow Wolverine costume. Jackman said via
“I absolutely loved it, except when I had to go to the bathroom. It was like a labyrinth!“
Reynolds jumped in,
It took like five minutes just to find the thing! Like, what is happening in there? Is it a hedge maze? Is that the elevator from Prince’s house? How did that get in there! What is this, my dad’s ashes?
Reynolds’ hilarious description was enough to cause Jackman to laugh uncontrollably.
Their spontaneous interactions brought a fun, relaxed vibe to the set, making the experience truly memorable for both actors. Reynolds has often praised Jackman’s talent for adding depth to Wolverine, showing he’s more than just a tough superhero with muscles. This ability to make a superhero feel real and complex was something Reynolds deeply admired. Jackman, in turn, admired Reynolds for capturing Deadpool’s humanity beneath all the humor making him seem very genuine.
Life after Deadpool as Reynolds, Jackman, and Levy plan a new film
Deadpool 3 had fans thrilled, especially with Hugh Jackman’s comeback as Wolverine for the first time since Logan in 2017. The excitement grew even more as sneak peeks and trailers dropped, promising an action-packed and hilarious adventure with Ryan Reynolds’ cheeky Deadpool and Jackman’s iconic Wolverine.
This time, the two heroes are on a mission for the Time Variance Authority to save the Multiverse, giving fans a fresh storyline after their first and not-so-beloved pairing in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Unlike their initial team-up, Deadpool 3 which came out in July became a huge hit, giving fans the fun, exciting duo they’d been waiting for. And even after wrapping up this Marvel adventure, Reynolds has hinted that he’s working on a new project with Jackman and director Shawn Levy, but this one will be completely different. He’s spent the year writing a unique script designed specifically for himself, Jackman, and Levy.
While details are still under wraps, Reynolds confirmed this project has nothing to do with Deadpool, Wolverine, or Marvel. Fans are buzzing with anticipation, eager to see what this trio will create together in a new, non-superhero setting.
