Ryan Reynolds “Surprised” By Disney Letting ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Be A “Hard R”: “I Think It’s A Huge Step For Them”

Deadpool & Wolverine is an R-rated movie, and star Ryan Reynolds says he’s “surprised” Disney gave the filmmakers the creative freedom to get there.

“I’m really proud of them for doing this,” Reynolds said in an interview with Fandango. “I think it’s a huge step for them. It adds a whole other color to this kaleidoscopic wheel that is that company and the different people that they have been entertaining for forever.”

He continued, “I was surprised though that they let us go as Hard R… but very grateful. I mean, there’s no other way to do it. For this character and this world, and particularly Logan being an R-rated film as well, I felt like that was the most full-throated version of Wolverine or Logan that we’ve ever seen as well, so it really allowed us a lot of freedom, not exploiting the R rating just to do R-rated stuff, but really allowing us to do anything and everything in a world where anything and everything is possible.”

Deadpool & Wolverine stars Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, and Shawn Levy directs the superhero movie. Levy recently said that audiences can jump right into this third film starring Deadpool, and it’s not necessary to have prior knowledge of the MCU.

“I was a good student in school. I’ll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies,” Levy told AP in an interview.

He added, “I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world. But I didn’t want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research.”

Deadpool and Wolverine opens on July 26 in theaters.