Ryan Reynolds Thinks His Strangest Movie’s Sequel Will Be Canceled
Ryan Reynolds is doubtful that Free Guy 2 will actually happen.
Ryan Reynolds has solidified himself as a lead action franchise star after the success of 2021’s Free Guy, 2016’s Deadpool, and its subsequent sequel Deadpool 2 in 2018. It may come as a surprise to fans that Reynolds may not be keen to reprise lead a role for a certain fan-favorite franchise. A recent article from Variety magazine reveals that Ryan Reynolds may be lukewarm on the concept of a sequel for the video game-influenced action film Free Guy.
Speaking during the Just For Laughs comedy festival in London, Reynolds was asked about his childhood, his role with Wrexham F.C., his new child, his infamous role in 2011’s Green Lantern, and his feelings about possible sequels for the number of franchises that he’s involved in. The Canadian actor had this to say specifically about doing a Free Guy sequel: “I would love it. But also like, does everything f****** have to be a sequel? I don’t know. Sometimes it’s OK to just do a movie and have it kick ass and then everyone go home.”
Reynolds continued, “So you know, there’s a bit of a push and pull there, resisting the urge to just immediately say, ‘Ohh, doing a sequel will validate the first one,’” before finishing “No, the first movie validates the first one and then you can leave it at that. So I don’t know, we’re still talking about it.”
In a movie landscape where everything seems to have a sequel, a prequel, or be part of a larger multiverse, Ryan Reynold’s aversion to the concept of a Free Guy sequel may resonate with some fans.
Free Guy was released in 2021 with a robust cast of actors including Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Taika Waititi, and John Krasinski. It was produced by Shawn Levy from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn, and a story by Lieberman. Levy has collaborated with Ryan Reynolds a number of times since directing Free Guy, with the two connecting again for The Adam Project in 2022, and the upcoming Deadpool 3.
Free Guy incorporated numerous video game and culture references that endeared it to fans. The game world drew inspiration from games like Grand Theft Auto, Fortnite, and The Sims, and the film features iconic video game weapons including a Star Wars lightsaber, Captain America’s shield, and Fortnite’s pickaxe. The directorial choices and video game references made the film a vibrant romp with its own visual and aesthetic style.
Reynolds’ feelings on the subject may be guided by his involvement in the Deadpool franchise, for which he will be reprising his role as the titular Deadpool for Deadpool 3, set to release in 2024. With the rights of Deadpool, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four returned to Marvel Studios, it is an almost foregone conclusion that Deadpool will be appearing within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the character is set to star alongside Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in Deadpool 3. This could mean an extended run for Reynolds as the character.
Ryan Reynolds first donned the role of Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine back in 2009, before leading in 2016’s Deadpool film. Many weren’t sure that the character’s humor, crassness, and graphic nature of his healing abilities would translate with audiences, but the film was a huge success despite its R rating. What felt like it could have been a one-off character for Reynolds has now become a defining character for his career.
Outside of Free Guy and Deadpool, Reynolds is known for roles in National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, The Proposal, and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, among others.
Although there had been previous reports of a Free Guy sequel in the works and there has been no notification that that has shifted, Reynolds’ comments cast doubt on the project and whether the actor is committed to the franchise in the long term.
