Ryan Reynolds, now one of Hollywood's highest-grossing actors thanks to his role as the iconic superhero Deadpool, was once regarded as difficult to work with during his early career. Recent comments made by actor Matthew Lawrence on his 'Brotherly Love Podcast' have shed light on Reynolds' tumultuous on-set behavior during the production of the 1998 horror-comedy film Boltneck.
According to Lawrence, who starred alongside Reynolds as Frank Stein, the production team struggled to manage the young actor's antics on set. "Ryan's amazing," Lawrence began, but emphasized, "back then, he was a total schlub." At the tender age of 21, Reynolds was not yet the polished performer audiences see today. Lawrence, who had been working as a child star, described himself as "dialed in" to the film-making process, whereas Reynolds was still finding his footing.
During the 1998 filming, Lawrence recalled the production team becoming frustrated with Reynolds’ approach to acting, particularly because he would often veer off-script. He recounted how Reynolds would attempt to perform a questionable Jim Carrey impersonation, leading the crew to admonish him with, "This is not what we hired you to do. You can't impersonate someone. You gotta do your own thing." Lawrence relayed how Reynolds reacted defensively, asserting, "I’m doing my thing."
The conflict escalated to the point where there was reportedly an emergency meeting among the crew and the director to address the concerns about Reynolds. "I can’t believe this guy. We had so much hope for this guy. He’s going nowhere," Lawrence recalled one crew member saying. Despite the frustrations experienced during Boltneck, Lawrence expressed some rediscovery of respect for Reynolds, noting, "To be honest, I'm not even mad at Ryan... he was trying to Deadpool it!"
Lawrence's reflections come at a time when Reynolds is synonymous with success at the box office, having grossed over $4.4 billion worldwide, primarily from his comedic roles, which often feature self-deprecative humor. While Boltneck underperformed critically (having no score on the Tomatometer and only 44% audience approval on Rotten Tomatoes), it did not stall Reynolds' rising career. His breakout role came shortly thereafter on the sitcom Two Guys and a Girl, followed by hits like National Lampoon's Van Wilder and the massive success of Deadpool, released in 2016.
Boltneck, which revolves around Lawrence's character bringing Reynolds' Karl back to life using the brain of a serial killer, was released directly to video. Despite its struggle to find success, Reynolds' career flourished from it, proving to be resilient amid the earlier years of rocky performances. Over time, he matured as both an actor and person, transforming his unique comedic style and penchant for self-awareness.
Now, Reynolds stands as one of the most recognizable actors, with critics and audiences alike celebrating his work. Even so, the stories from Boltneck serve as reminders of the growth and pitfalls many experience on the path to stardom, including those rocky beginnings Reynolds encountered.
Matthew Lawrence's nostalgic recount of working with Reynolds emphasizes not just the transformation of the actor himself but reminds us of the unpredictable nature of Hollywood careers. "You never know in Hollywood, folks," Lawrence added with humor, indicating the unanimous uncertainty present within the industry.
Lawrence's comments echo sentiments many might feel when they look back on the formative years in their careers. Although Reynolds faced criticisms during his early years, they highlight the evolution it takes from being viewed as inexperienced to eventually commanding the big screen. Today, with the much-anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine set to release soon, fans eagerly await to see how this once-difficult actor continues to surprise and engage audiences worldwide.