San Diego Comic-Con attendees were treated to a massive surprise when Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman crashed Hall H for an exclusive screening of their latest movie, “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Alongside co-star Emma Corrin, director Shawn Levy, and Marvel chief Kevin Feige, the stars presented the film to an ecstatic audience on its global release day.
The event, dubbed “The Ultimate Deadpool & Wolverine Celebration of Life,” capped off a hectic day for Reynolds, Jackman, and Levy, who had traveled from Los Angeles after attending Feige’s Walk of Fame Ceremony. The group took the stage individually, sharing nostalgic stories about their Comic-Con experiences.
Reynolds reminisced about his first Comic-Con appearance with the original “Deadpool” movie, expressing how nervous yet excited he was. Jackman added his memories of the event, recounting how he convinced the stage manager to replay the footage after the crowd’s enthusiastic chant of “One more time.”
The nostalgia-filled anecdotes led to a humorous clip of Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, which transitioned into the surprise movie screening announcement. The 6,500-strong audience erupted in excitement, especially as they realized the significance of their Wolverine-head popcorn buckets, which were handed out earlier.
Throughout the film, the crowd’s reactions were electric, especially during surprise cameos. The excitement peaked with appearances by stars like Dafne Keen, Jennifer Garner, Channing Tatum, Wesley Snipes, and Chris Evans (introduced as Human Torch by Reynolds).
After the credits, the cast returned to the stage. Reynolds, visibly moved, expressed his honor and privilege to share the experience with Jackman. Jackman, reflecting on his 24 years as Wolverine, thanked Levy and Reynolds for making the film possible.
The celebration continued with a drone and fireworks show over Petco Park, showcasing formations of Deadpool and Wolverine and hinting at future Marvel announcements, including updates on “The Fantastic Four.”
Early projections indicate that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is set to break box office records, potentially earning between $160 million to $200 million in its opening weekend. Produced by Feige, Reynolds, Levy, and Lauren Shuler Donner, with a team of executive producers including Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, and Simon Kinberg, the film is written by Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, and Levy.
