Hugh Jackman told Sky News he would love for King Charles to join him for a cameo in the new Deadpool movie.
Wolverine’s Star — who is reprising his X-Men role in the franchise’s third film about a foul-mouthed antihero — has a playful rivalry with Ryan Reynolds, who plays the title character.
He joked that it’s that friendly spat that gave him mixed feelings about returning to the role – and called on the monarch to help him out.
“It’s mostly joy and excitement and fun (but) I dread spending many, many hours every day with Ryan Reynolds.” Jackman laughed.
“This is going to be a real mental health issue for me, but I don’t know, maybe we can bring in King Charles to make a cameo.
“What do you think, Your Majesty – little cameo? You can punch Ryan Reynolds as many times as you like, Your Majesty.”
Promoting his latest film, The Son, the Australian actor said that as he is also a British citizen, the Royal Family is part of his own family history.
“I remember when Lady Diana and Prince Charles were married, I remember my father making us come downstairs,” he said.
“We had to watch television that night and he opened champagne, which was really important to him.
“I wish the new monarch all the best – it’s an insurmountable role to take on and I admire him for taking it, and I wish him all the best.”
Zen McGrath. Photo: Black Bear Pictures/See-Saw Films
Jackman also spoke about how his life was impacted by his latest film role.
While it’s not uncommon for movie stars to see work requiring them to take time away, master a new skill, or change their physical appearance, it’s not all that common for them to admit that their relationship with their own children has changed because of a character. that they know. I played.
The 54-year-old actor said making The Son – in which he plays the father of a depressed teenager – has given him a new perspective on being a father to his own children, Oscar, 22, and Ava, 17.
“Any parent knows it’s the most humiliating thing you can do.
“It pushes his buttons more than anything else, and somehow it brings up a fear and worry that is so hard to deal with, and I became a different parent because of this movie.”
The star went on to explain how being in the movie has changed the way he talks to his kids.
“I find I’m more often saying ‘I don’t know’ or ‘Give me a second’, ‘I don’t know what to do’, ‘I’m thinking about this, but I’m also thinking about that’ and that really disarms them, actually, especially when we’re getting into a fight.
“And also, to tell them things that I’m feeling that have nothing to do with them, because I don’t want them to think that I’m mad at them, and if I’m worried about something else, I explain to them what I’m going through.
“So it changed things for me for sure.”
Sir Anthony Hopkins. Photo: Black Bear Pictures/See-Saw Films
The Son is the second feature film from filmmaker Florian Zeller, whose debut The Father was critically acclaimed, winning Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for star Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Jackman says he was the one who approached Zeller about starring in his next project, despite having some “doubts” about the role.
“I actually looked for the director, as if I had pursued this one because I really, really wanted to play the part.
“I loved the story, I love Florian as a filmmaker, as a writer – The Father was amazing and so I was passionate about doing it and I was also scared.
“I remember having my first conversation with him, from which he ended up casting me, thinking that I’m equally terrified of getting the part and not getting the part because it’s the kind of character I’m not offered much of. .”
It’s surprising to think of Jackman doing something he’s never done before – in a varied career spanning nearly thirty years, he’s become Marvel’s longest-serving star as Wolverine/Logan, stole hearts in Australia from Baz Luhrmann and showcased his musical talents in Les Miserables. and The Greatest Showman.
However, he says he certainly doesn’t feel like he’s mastered his craft.
“I never feel, to be honest, like I’ve done it all or ‘ah, that’s a breeze,'” admitted Jackman.
“It never seems easy for me.
“(The Son) was just, it felt like something I rarely get a chance to do, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
In the film, Jackman’s character struggles to understand his son’s mental health issues.
(RL): Jackman and Vanessa Kirby. Photo: Black Bear Pictures/See-Saw Films
The teenager, played by Zen McGrath, is skipping school and finding it increasingly difficult to function.
Jackman says he is extremely sympathetic to young people who are finding this difficult to deal with.
“It’s so hard being a teenager, and I think particularly with the pandemic, I find it incredibly hard,” he said.
“There’s social media, all these things that are so different from what we grew up with, it was tough for me growing up as a teenager – it’s a really tough time for any kid I guess – but I would say now is the hardest it’s ever been. – that’s my impression.
“And yet, having said that, I think there’s real hope, I feel like the younger generation, these teenagers are a lot more open about things, they’re a lot more fluid and less judgmental about what group you’re in or what sexuality that you have – they don’t care about any of that and so I see a lot of hope, but I think it’s very difficult for them.”
While acknowledging how difficult things are now, the star also admits that there are certain aspects of life now that he would have appreciated when he was younger, and toxic masculinity has prevented some honest exchanges.
“Fortunately, we are getting better at having open conversations about being more vulnerable, about accepting that we don’t have all the answers, about relying on others for help,” Jackman said.
“All those things, I think, are long overdue.
“And, you know, I wish I had those conversations when I was a teenager.”
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After his award-winning role in Zeller’s previous film, Sir Anthony Hopkins returns in a cameo in The Son – playing a different character and the father of Jackman’s character, Peter.
They have a long scene together, with Jackman describing the veteran as an “acting hero” of his.
“I think the thing that I learned the most, that I most admired about him, was that he was the first one to show up on set before any of the crew showed up, he was there,” he explained.
“He woke up at 3:30 in the morning so excited he just went to work and he got there like 4:00 or something – security was there, nobody else and he just waited and then it was so good we were done at 11:30 in the morning.
“The scene was done and he asked the director if he could go again and I said (to Zeller) ‘Why do you think he’s going again?’ He said, ‘I think he misses acting’ – because of the pandemic, he hasn’t acted, so he just wanted to get out there and do it and he loves it.”
The Son is in UK cinemas now.