Director Shawn Levy is opening up about the Hugh Jackman and Ben Affleck divorce jokes in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine was released in United States theaters in July 2024. The MCU film, which stars Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, features a moment that pokes fun at Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness’ separation.
Additionally, another scene in the movie takes a swing at Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s divorce, the latter of whom appears in the film as Elektra.
What did Shawn Levy say about Deadpool & Wolverine’s divorce jokes?
Speaking with Variety, Levy said that these jokes were done with consent from all the concerned parties.
“We never did a joke about or with anyone that we didn’t run by them first,” he explained. “Whether it was scripted, like the Daredevil line, or unscripted, like ‘He’s normally shirtless, but he’s let himself go since the divorce,’ which was more of on-set improv, Ryan or I would always run the lines by performers and make sure everyone felt comfortable and that we were never punching down. It was all in a playful spirit that everyone felt good about. Those lines wouldn’t be in the movie if Hugh and Jen didn’t think they were funny.”
Affleck was rumored to appear as Daredevil in Deadpool & Wolverine for a time; however, Levy said that they were never seriously bringing him back following preliminary conversations.
“Early on, when we were looking at a 70-name menu of Marvel characters, Daredevil was on one of those lists, but never since those earliest of conversations, and never to the point of outreach or offers or anything like that,” Levy explained. “We made contact with everyone featured in the Fox tribute reel halfway through our end credits — and that’s dozens of actors who have been a part of that legacy. That was fun to build a love letter to those years, those characters, and all the actors who played them.”
Deadpool & Wolverine is now playing in United States theaters.
