The whole concept of a PG-13 re-release of Deadpool 2 is pretty ridiculous and Ryan Reynolds knows it, with various trailers demonstrating how Wade Wilson’s scenes opposite Fred Savage will parody the very idea of trying to filter the Merc’s latest adventure “through the prism of child-like innocence.” Once Upon a Deadpool may be a Deadpool movie without the swearing and graphic violence, but they certainly haven’t censored out the self-aware humor.
Just take this latest promo for instance, in which Savage bombards Wade with a series of questions that have probably been on the minds of plenty of fans. When the query is posed of why this is a PG-13 affair, Deadpool answers, “It’s a family movie. Also money. Also Disney.” Savage then ups the ante with his next question: “Why do you think audiences will be stupid enough to swallow this?” Wade then replies, “I’m not sure this level of curiosity is cute coming from a middle-aged man strapped to a bed against his will.”
Overall, the clip makes it abundantly clear that Reynolds and his co-writers totally get why fans were so perplexed and outraged when the PG-13 release was first announced. Nonetheless, the reworked Deadpool 2 is already winning over supporters, including the Merc with a Mouth’s own co-creator Rob Liefeld, who took to Instagram last week to praise the new cut as “one of the most daring and insane outings this series has seen.”
If the writer’s to be believed, then perhaps a family-friendly Deadpool won’t be as safe and edgeless as people feared, though audiences can judge for themselves when Once Upon a Deadpool begins its two-week run in cinemas from December 12th.