Uncovering Disney's Censorship in the Deadpool Sequel
Deleted Joke and Its Replacement
Director Shawn Levy previously mentioned that there was only one line in the entire movie that needed to be changed. In the original script, Deadpool (played by Ryan Reynolds) makes a rather vulgar joke about Disney being cheap with the line, "F—! What, we can’t even afford one more X-Man? Disney is so cheap. I can barely breathe with all this Mickey Mouse c–k in my throat." However, in the final cut of the movie, the line was changed to, "F—, now Disney gets cheap? It’s like Pinocchio jammed his face in my ass and started lying like crazy." This substitution showcases the creative differences and the studio's influence on the final product.Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman's on-screen chemistry is evident in the movie. The scene featuring the surprise cameos by Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade, and Channing Tatum as Gambit adds an extra layer of excitement. The screenplay also reveals the Stranger Things-inspired code names used to keep the characters' identities a secret, such as Gambit being "Gatsby," Elektra being "Eleven," and Blade being "Billy." Additionally, Chris Evans' Johnny Storm is listed as "Jonathan Byers" earlier in the script.
Reynolds' decision to substitute the original joke with a different one shows his audacious nature. In a previous Entertainment Weekly interview, Levy recalled his reaction to Reynolds' replacement. He said, "I was like, ‘Ryan, that’s your replacement line in response to can we clean it up?’ That’s Ryan Reynolds for you, audacious to the very edge."
Marvel Studios President's Perspective
There is another line in the movie where Deadpool claims that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige made cocaine jokes "off limits" for the movie. Feige addressed this moment, stating, "I didn’t say they couldn’t. But we were talking about everybody always being afraid of Disney-fying things. This is the biggest entertainment company in the world for 100 years. You should be so lucky to Disney-fy everything!" He continued, "But what people mean by that is shaving down the rough edges. We were open to everything. I had said there were some things that we could evolve. After about the 28th time you do a joke, sometimes it’s not as funny. Maybe I’m slightly prudish when it comes to drug use. But I was like, ‘Eh, it’s not that funny,’ in passing. Ryan, of course, stores everything in his brain for later use as excellent jokes. And he added it to the script."Reynolds' pride in Disney for being on board with his R-rated vision for the Deadpool sequel is evident. In a video for Fandango, he said, "I hope it doesn’t sound condescending, I’m really proud of them for doing this. I think it’s a huge step for them. I mean, it adds a whole other color to this kaleidoscopic wheel that is that company and the different people that they have been entertaining forever. 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."
Deadpool & Wolverine is now available for streaming on Disney+. This movie has not only entertained audiences with its action and humor but has also raised important questions about creative freedom and studio censorship.