Ryan Reynolds asked Madonna in person to use ‘Like a Prayer’ in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
Just like a prayer, she’ll make you take it there.
Ryan Reynolds had a bigger challenge than any Marvel superhero has faced by convincing Madonna to let her classic hit “Like a Prayer” be used in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the crossover blockbuster that opens in theaters on Friday.
Reynolds — who stars as Deadpool opposite Hugh Jackman as Wolverine — went on a Madge mission with director Shawn Levy, making an in-person plea to the Queen of Pop for the prized permission to feature her 1989 No. 1 hit in a key sequence.
“It did involve a personal visit to Madonna, where we showed Madonna the sequence where ‘Like a Prayer’ would be used,” said Levy during an interview on Jess Cagle’s SiriusXM radio show.
“Also, let’s preface it with the fact that they don’t license — that Madonna doesn’t just license the song, particularly that song,” added Reynolds about the seventh of the singer’s 12 No. 1 singles, which has also been prominently featured in the film’s trailers.
“It was a big deal to ask for it and certainly a bigger deal to use it . . . We went over and met with her and and sort of showed her how it was being used, and where, and why,” the actor stated.
Not only were Reynolds and Levy granted the rare right to use a Madonna song in a movie that she didn’t appear in or specifically write a song for, but the 65-year-old music icon also gave them some valuable advice along with it.
“She gave a great note,” Reynolds said of the legendary pop diva, who has her own experience directing films such as 2008’s “Filth and Wisdom” and 2011’s “W.E.”
“She watched it, and I’m not kidding, [she said], ‘You need to do this.’ And damn it, if she wasn’t like spot on.”
“We literally went into a new recording session within 48 hours to do this note,” Levy continued. “It made the sequence better.”
However, “Like a Prayer” was not licensed for the “Deadpool & Wolverine: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,” also out Friday, featuring the likes of *NSYNC (“Bye Bye Bye”), Fergie (“Glamorous”), the Goo Goo Dolls (“Iris”), Huey Lewis & the News (“The Power of Love”) and Avril Lavigne (“I’m With You”).
Apparently, Godmother Madonna’s blessing only goes so far.
Madonna went on to make a surprise appearance at the film’s premiere with twin daughters Estere and Stella, 11, at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City on Monday.
