8 Famous Actors Forced Into Roles They Never Wanted

3. Ryan Reynolds - X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Mystique X-Men Choke
20th Century Fox

Ryan Reynolds was able to redeem himself - and his character - with 2016's Deadpool, but considering the long, bumpy road the actor took to get there, it's a wonder he didn't give up halfway through.

While making Blade: Trinity in the early 2000s, Reynolds and writer-director David Goyer tried to forge a deal to make a Deadpool movie at New Line Cinema, something that never got off the ground. Reynolds would later get his chance to play Wade Wilson in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but to say the character was mistreated here is a gross, gross understatement.

But the sewn-shut mouth, the laser eyes and the hand-blades were nothing to do with Reynolds, who was locked into playing a version of the character he fundamentally disagreed with. Speaking to EW, the actor recalled the studio approaching him and saying "play Deadpool in this movie [Origins] or we’ll get someone else to".

Of course, the movie was a colossal disaster, and it set Reynolds up for a stream of misfires, including Green Lantern and RIPD. Fortunately, he's now the toast of Hollywood thanks to Deadpool and its sequel.

Who doesn't love a happy ending?

Contributor
Contributor

WhoCulture Channel Manager/Doctor Who Editor at WhatCulture. Can confirm that bow ties are cool.