Few superhero film franchises embrace irreverence as much as “Deadpool.” However, even the notoriously edgy antihero had to tone it down when Disney intervened to remove a problematic joke from the script of the record-breaking film “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
The joke, exposed in the official screenplay shared on Disney’s For Your Consideration (FYC) website, targeted Mickey Mouse and the company’s fiscal methods. It was deemed too offensive to include in the film’s final version. Originally, Ryan Reynolds’ character, Deadpool, was written to say: “F—!” What, we can’t afford another X-Man? Disney is very inexpensive. “I can hardly breathe with all this Mickey Mouse c— in my throat.”
The statement was eventually replaced with a less direct but crass alternative: “F—, now Disney is cheap?” It’s like Pinocchio stuck his face in my ass and began lying like crazy.”
Director Shawn Levy told Entertainment Weekly that this was the only joke Disney insisted on modifying. “Ryan and I have made a pact to go to our graves with that line,” Levy said, adding that the substitute joke was just as outlandish and in keeping with Deadpool’s unique style.
Reynolds also discussed the move at the Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process. “As soon as anyone says, ‘Ryan, this is Bob Iger. I would appreciate it if you could remove that one line, but something in my head says, “Must keep line!” “Precious!” he joked. However, he said that he understood Disney’s decision. “Of course, I can take that out,” Reynolds replied.
“Deadpool & Wolverine,” Deadpool’s first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, has been a huge hit. The film has grossed $1.3 billion worldwide, making it the most successful R-rated film ever.
The event highlights the difficulty of reconciling Deadpool’s usual irreverence with Disney’s broader family-friendly image. Despite the edit, fans and critics agree that the film retains the franchise’s trademark humor and edge. As Reynolds and Levy point out, even when boundaries are pushed, some lines are better left on the cutting room floor.
