Ryan Reynolds Reportedly Dropped a Ton of His Own Money Get Bea Arthur in ‘Deadpool’

Ryan Reynolds reportedly dropped a ton of his own money to get Bea Arthur's likeness in 'Deadpool.'

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Complex Original

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If spending nearly a decade trying to get the film off the ground and hitting up Screen Junkies to appear in his own Honest Trailer wasn’t enough of an indication, Ryan Reynolds really loves Deadpool. His dedication certainly paid off, as the film has been smashing box office records since its release back in February.

But there’s one minor detail that had Reynolds spending a ton of cash for a few seconds of film. In the comics, one of the defining characteristics of the Merc with a Mouth (aside from a love of chimichangas and smart-ass remarks) is his obsession with Golden Girls alum Bea Arthur, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 86. Reynolds found a way to sneak her into the movie by sporting a tank top bearing her likeness. According to the DVD commentary, he donated $10,000 to an undisclosed charity and reached out to one of her sons for permission.

"I was on Dharma & Greg on Stage 21 at Fox when Ryan was on Stage 20 doing Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place," Daniel Saks, Arthur’s TV set designer son told the Hollywood Reporter. "He was always a nice guy, and the fact that it was him gave it more weight with me and my brother, Matthew. We thought, 'Why not?'"

Reynolds efforts to get Deadpool just right were undoubtedly influenced by the character’s bizarre appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which saw him inexplicably mute and without his trademark red and black spandex. Reynolds has publicly denounced this on-screen abomination on numerous occasions. 

With the 2016 film closing in on $800 million worldwide and a sequel in the works, it's safe to say that first incarnation will soon become a distant memory. 

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