
Ryan Reynolds had a standout year in 2024, with his leadership in Deadpool & Wolverine, the R-rated superhero hit that earned over $1.3 billion at the box office and received critical acclaim. Known for his roles in action thrillers, Reynolds also starred in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, a 2021 action comedy he co-led with Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, and Antonio Banderas. Despite its poor critical reception—scoring just 25% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to a 79% audience score—the film has found new success on streaming, currently sitting at #9 on Freevee.
Patrick Hughes and Tom O’Connor returned to work on Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard after collaborating on the 2017 film The Hitman’s Bodyguard. They were joined by Phillip and Brandon Murphy, who contributed as screenwriters for the sequel. O’Connor, known for his work on the 2016 spy thriller The Courier starring Benedict Cumberbatch, also made his screenwriting debut in 2012 with Fire with Fire, an action thriller featuring Bruce Willis and Rosario Dawson. Hughes, who directed The Man from Toronto (2022), starring Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson, is also recognized for his work on The Expendables 3, the third installment of the franchise featuring Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone. Hughes made his directorial debut 15 years ago with Red Hill, a contemporary Western starring Ryan Kwanten and Steve Bisley, which is now available for free streaming on Tubi.
What Else Does Ryan Reynolds Have in the Works?
Ryan Reynolds’ next role will come in Animal Friends, the animated comedy from Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider that also stars Aubrey Plaza and Jason Momoa that’s been set for release on October 10. He’ll also star alongside Creature Commandos veteran Maria Bakalova and Kenneth Branagh in Mayday, the upcoming action comedy from John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein that’s currently in production. It’s unknown at this time if Reynolds will reprise his role as Deadpool in a future MCU movie, but Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars certainly present an opening for him to appear.