Ryan Reynolds Is ‘Surprised’ Disney Allowed ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ to Be So Hard R: ‘It’s a Huge Step for Them’ and I’m Not Trying to ‘Sound Condescending’

Ryan Reynolds said in a new video interview with Fandango that he is “surprised” Disney allowed the upcoming “Deadpool and Wolverine” to be so R-rated. The movie is the first “Deadpool” film to be released under Disney following the company’s acquisition of Fox, which made Reynolds’ first two R-rated “Deadpool” movies that grossed just over $780 million each at the worldwide box office. Comic book fans feared Disney might tamp down the franchise’s R-rating given its commitment to family entertainment, but Reynolds and director Shawn Levy were granted permission to continue with the raunchy humor.

“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,” Reynolds said about Disney letting a film be R-rated “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.”

Reynolds 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.”

Not only is “Deadpool and Wolverine” notable for being the first R-rated Marvel Cinematic Universe movie at Disney, but it also marks Hugh Jackman’s highly-anticipated return to playing his iconic X-Men character. Reynolds noted that Jackman’s last appearance as the character, 2017’s “Logan,” was also R-rated, which meant there was no way pairing the two comic book characters on the big screen could produce anything other than an R-rated tentpole.

“[The R rating] really [allowed] us to do anything and everything in a world where anything and everything is possible,” Reynolds added.

While pairing Deadpool and Wolverine unites years of comic book movie history on the big screen, Levy recently told the Associated Press that knowledge of pre-existing Marvel movies won’t be essential to enjoying “Deadpool and Wolverine.”

“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 said. “I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude toward 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.”

While Jackman is playing Wolverine, it’s not the same Wolverine he played on screen for more than a decade. That Wolverine was killed in “Logan,” and Jackman assured fans when he joined the next “Deadpool” movie that his reprisal of the X-Men character would not screw with the events of the beloved 2017 movie.

“Deadpool and Wolverine” hits theaters on July 26. Watch Reynolds, Jackman and Levy’s full video interview with Fandango in the post below.