Deadpool Makes Smashing Debut in R-Rated “Extra” April Fools' Day Gag

Warner Bros. Entertainment (NEW YORK) — On Monday, Ryan Reynolds tweeted he was fighting with 20th Century Fox to secure an “R” rating for the self-titled big-screen bow of his violent, potty-mouthed anti-hero Deadpool.

However, Wednesday saw the actor launching an epic April Fools’ Day prank on the Marvel character’s fans that ended with them seeing him in action for the first time in, of all places, the Extra TV studio, where he dished some quintessentially Deadpool-style get-back to host Mario Lopez.

Monday morning, Ryan tweeted defeat: that the infamously inappropriate character would be getting a most inappropriate rating. He tried to assure fans, “A PG-13 #deadpool will still have…a sh**-ton of action…Zero need to panic. I promise.”

As the fanboy set moaned, an Extra interview about the movie appeared, with host Mario Lopez badgering the actor about how great a “family friendly” Deadpool would be. Reynolds appeared increasingly agitated, explaining the need to “keep the spirit of the comic book alive.”

However, as Lopez pressed, Reynolds, dressed in Deadpool’s weapons-strewn, head-to-toe bodysuit, strides behind the oblivious host and smashes a TV over Lopez’ head. “Fu** you, Slater,” the “Merc with the Mouth” quipped, referring to the host’s Saved by the Bell character.

Reynolds in character then said, “April Fools’! Deadpool will, of course, be Rated R.” He then holds up to the camera one of his trademark victim sketches and said, “It’s Okay, Jessie: Slater can’t hurt you anymore.”

As the piece went viral, Reynolds tweeted again, “February 12th. There will be blood. Guns. F-bombs. And graphic, expertly lit French Unicorn sex.”

Interest in a Deadpool movie exploded after last year’s leak of scrapped test footage — with Reynolds voicing a computer-generated version of the character — went viral.


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