Five years ago, Marvel Studios announced it was making Blade with multiple Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali. That, of course, has yet to happen—and Marvel’s latest movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, addresses the frustration head-on. But what audiences don’t know is that a different version of the scene would’ve completely changed the intention.
In Deadpool & Wolverine, Wesley Snipes reprises his role as Blade and comments that there will only ever be one Blade. Deadpool then gives a cheeky, silent look into the camera that reads as if he’s saying “Oh, I can’t believe he said that.” But, obviously, he can believe it because star Ryan Reynolds, director Shawn Levy, and everyone involved specifically left both the line and the reaction in the movie. Interestingly though, that wasn’t always how it played out.
io9 recently spoke with Shane Reid, one of the editors of Deadpool & Wolverine, who said there was an alternate cut of the scene that was much more direct. “There was actually a take that we had in there for a while where [Deadpool] sneezed ‘Mahershala,’ which was really funny,” Reid told io9 over video chat. “And so it would be like, ‘There’s only ever be one Blade.’ And he goes, ‘Mahershala!’ But I think this is where we all trust Ryan [Reynolds] to know exactly what that character is and what the fans want from Deadpool.”
Reid explained that it was Reynolds’ restraint with the character that changed the moment to what it is in the final film. “As much fourth wall breaking as there is, there’s also a lot of restraint from Ryan,” he said. “He really knows when to not give something that feels like it’s overindulgent. And I think he just did a take, whether or not it was Shawn’s direction on set or just Ryan, I don’t know, but he just did one where he just looked right into the lens. And I think he just felt like that said everything it needed to say, because it allowed you to have your own feeling about it. And I think that’s just a class choice.”
As intended, the look does say many things depending on how you perceive it. It could be saying “That Blade movie will never happen.” It could be saying “Marvel, what’s taking you so long?” It could even be a look at the camera and slam against Snipes for being wrong. But by not leaving in the Mahershala sneeze, the moment is open to interpretation… and doesn’t lock Marvel into making a movie it’s not been able to get going for the better part of a decade.
Deadpool & Wolverine is in theaters now.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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