Deadpool and Wolverine features among the most gags-per-second of any Marvel film in history. Some of them seem to take aim at Justin Baldoni.
The actor is part of a high-profile spat with It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively, who happens to be married to Deadpool and Wolverine star Ryan Reynolds. There have been allegations of workplace misconduct, inappropriateness, and smear campaigns.
With the battle still raging in the public eye and across social media, fans are now looking back at the second-biggest movie of 2024 and finding some jabs that could be directed at Baldoni and the events surrounding him.
One of the gags features Deadpool variant Nicepool, who is rumored to be based on Baldoni. Like the actor, he sports long, flowing hair and an overtly friendly demeanor that borders on smug.
"The more I learn about Nicepool's character, the more evident it becomes that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively were mocking Justin Baldoni in the Deadpool & Wolverine movie," writes @spiritualshift_ on Twitter.
At one point, Nicepool compliments Ladypool, a Deadpool variant played by Blake Lively, saying, "Oh my goodness, wait til you've seen Ladypool. She's gorgeous. She just had a baby too, and I can't even tell." Deadpool replies, "I don't think you're supposed to say that," to which Nicepool responds, "That's okay. I identify as a feminist."
To give the gag more context, Lively alleges Baldoni made inappropriate remarks about her body after she gave birth.
Does Deadpool and Wolverine reference Justin Baldoni?
Another gag centers on supervillain Cassandra Nova, who can stick her fingers inside people's heads. As she uses the power against Deadpool, he says, "And where in God's name is the intimacy coordinator?" This is a reference to claims there was no intimacy coordinator on the set of It Ends With Us during the filming of certain scenes.
There's also an outtake in which Nicepool says, "My calling is to host a podcast that monetizes the women's movement." Baldoni hosts a feminist podcast, Man Enough.
At the climax of Deadpool and Wolverine, Nicepool ends up being shot to death by Ladypool in an especially gory outpouring of violence. If the character isn't based on Baldoni, there sure are a lot of coincidences.
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