The Origin of the Banter

During a recent performance at Radio City Music Hall, Hugh Jackman seized the opportunity to express some tongue-in-cheek frustration towards Ryan Reynolds, his co-star in the upcoming film featuring both Deadpool and Wolverine.

Jackman’s Musical Grievance

While entertaining a lively crowd at his residency, “From New York, With Love,” Jackman humorously lamented being omitted from the film’s opening sequence. This scene features Reynolds’ iconic Deadpool character engaging in an elaborate dance routine set to *NSYNC’s hit song, “Bye Bye Bye.”

In a candid moment, Jackman told his audience, “Don’t tell Ryan. I don’t need to be in every scene in the movie. But Ryan is a writer, and when I saw that the scene I’m not in is the opening sequence which is a dance number to an *NSYNC song by Ryan,” he couldn’t help but feel slighted.

Reflections on Dance Skills

Jackman, known for his extensive background in musical theater, was particularly taken aback by this exclusion, commenting on the unexpected nature of a dance-centric scene without his participation. “I’m like, the one scene I’m not in has dance?” he mused, before playfully critiquing Reynolds’ dancing abilities, stating, “Now Ryan, he’s very talented, but dancing?”

Friendship and Competitive Spirit

In a humorous twist, Jackman acknowledged that he wouldn’t dare try to match the skills of Reynolds’ dance double, whom he described as “like 25 years old.” This quip only added to the friendly competitive spirit that has characterized Jackman and Reynolds’ relationship over the years.

To demonstrate his desire to reclaim his moment in the spotlight, Jackman invited his trainer, Beth Lewis, onto the stage. Together, they performed their own dance routine to the popular boy band song, embracing the lighter side of their long-standing banter.

A Long-Lasting Bond

The jesting between Jackman and Reynolds is all in good fun, stemming from their deep-rooted friendship and decades of collaboration. The two actors have developed a tradition of publicly one-upping each other, making this exchange just one example of their playful camaraderie.