Ryan Reynolds share how Madonna blessed 'Deadpool & Wolverine' with her hit song

Los Angeles: Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy have unveiled the behind-the-scenes efforts that led to securing the rights to Madonna's iconic 1989 hit 'Like A Prayer' for their upcoming superhero film 'Deadpool & Wolverine'.

In an exclusive interview with Andy Cohen on SiriusXM, Levy disclosed that obtaining permission to use the song required a personal touch. "It did involve a personal visit to Madonna, where we showed her the sequence where 'Like a Prayer' would be used," he said.

Reynolds elaborated on the significance of this achievement, noting the rarity of such an occurrence. "Madonna doesn't just licence the song, particularly that song. It was a big deal to ask for it, and certainly a bigger deal to use it," he explained. "We went over and met with her and sort of showed her how it was being used, where, and why."

The encounter with Madonna was described as an extraordinary experience by Levy, who likened it to "meeting royalty." Reynolds humorously recounted his nervousness about the meeting, sharing that he sought advice on how to properly address the music legend. "Like, am I allowed to just say, 'Madonna?' Like, 'Hello Madonna, I'm Ryan,'" he recalled.

In a fortunate turn, Madonna agreed to the use of the track, influenced partly by her son's appreciation for the first two 'Deadpool' films. Moreover, she provided insightful feedback on the scene in which the song would feature. "She gave a great note," Reynolds said. "She watched it, and I'm not kidding, said, 'You need to do this.’ And damn it, if she wasn't spot on.”

Levy confirmed the swift implementation of Madonna's suggestions. “We literally went into a new recording session within 48 hours to implement her note... It made the sequence better,” he added.

'Deadpool & Wolverine' starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is an upcoming American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Deadpool and Wolverine, produced by Marvel Studios, Maximum Effort, and 21 Laps Entertainment. 

It is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The movie is a sequel to Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018). The film is directed by Shawn Levy. It is set to hit theatres in India on July 26, 2024.