10 Dying Acting Careers Saved By One Amazing Movie

2. Ryan Reynolds - Deadpool

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Fox

You had to feel sorry for Ryan Reynolds.

As an actor there was clearly potential there. He was funny, he had plenty of charisma, and unlike so many bland good-looking actors Hollywood has tried to push in the past, it actually seemed like he had a personality.

The only issue was that every movie he starred in sucked. Like, every movie. Not just one. All of them.

It didn't matter what genre he tried, the result ended up bombing. Horror? The Amityville Horror remake tanked. Romantic Comedy? Just Friends was a trainwreck. Superhero movies? The less said about Blade: Trinity, Green Lantern and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the better.

Of course, Ryan Reynolds knew he just needed the right role, and he knew that Deadpool (not the Origins: Wolverine embarrassment, the proper one) would be the perfect vehicle for his skills. The issue was, rights holders Fox didn't agree. An R-rated superhero movie that breaks the fourth wall and stars a character only comic book nerds have heard of? They didn't want to bite.

After years wearing them down though, Reynolds finally got his wish and was ultimately proven right when Deadpool became one of the most successful films of that year. Reynolds became a bonafide sensation overnight, and has enjoyed a string of other hits in the years since.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.