Warning: Mild spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.
So it looks like Justin Baldoni wasn’t the biggest fan of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Let’s step back a second. You’re likely aware by now that Justin’s It Ends with Us costar Blake Lively is suing him for alleged sexual harassment that caused her “severe emotional distress.” Justin’s legal team have denied the allegations and are suing the New York Times for alleged libel over its reporting of Blake’s lawsuit.
Enter Ryan Reynolds (Blake’s husband) and Deadpool. Variety is reporting that Justin’s legal team sent a letter to Disney execs earlier this month over the Deadpool & Wolverine character Nicepool, who is played by “Gordon Reynolds” aka Ryan.
As per Variety, the letter asks Marvel and Disney to preserve “any and all documents relating to the development of the ‘Nicepool’ character” and “communications relating to the development, writing, and filming of storylines and scenes featuring ‘Nicepool.’” They also request the preservation of “any and all documents relating to or reflecting a deliberate attempt to mock, harass, ridicule, intimidate, or bully Baldoni through the character of ‘Nicepool.’”
In non-legal speak, this essentially means that Justin’s legal team think that Justin may have inspired the character of Nicepool (and not in a good way). It’s a comparison others have made online, so let’s talk about it.
When Nicepool’s character is introduced, he says, “Did you see Ladypool? She is gorgeous. She just had a baby too, and you can’t even tell.” When Deadpool calls him out for the comment, Nicepool replies, “That’s okay, I identify as a feminist.” At another point, Nicepool says, “Where in God’s name is the intimacy coordinator?!”
It’s worth noting that Ladypool, who is voiced by Blake, winds up violently enacting her revenge. In real life, Blake has accused Justin of making inappropriate and sexual comments about her postpartum body and weight. The lawsuit also accuses Justin of improvising sexual moments without an intimacy coordinator.
In a deleted scene, Nicepool also says, “I’d be fighting alongside you, but my calling is to one day start a podcast that monetizes the women’s movement.” Though it’s not in the final cut of the movie, some have hypothesized that it’s a dig at Justin’s podcast The Man Enough.
Nicepool is also depicted as a spiritual man with a man bun. The latter prompted Justin’s lawyer Bryan Freedman to say, “There’s no question it relates to Justin.”
Blake even made a nod to Nicepool in the credits of It Ends with Us by thanking “Gordon Reynolds.” Blake also reportedly said on Instagram that both It Ends with Us and Deadpool & Wolverine were about “Nice men who use feminism as a tool.”
Neither Blake, Ryan, nor Disney have responded to Justin’s recent claims, but if they do we’ll be sure to keep you updated.
