Ryan Reynolds had to go beyond his limits for Deadpool & Wolverine.

At a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe is struggling to find its footing at the box office, the release of Deadpool & Wolverine promises to be a game changer for the franchise. The movie which brings the likes of Deadpool and Wolverine into the MCU is expected to make waves, as both the characters already have a sizable fandom. But the size of their fandom isn’t enough to guarantee their success in the long term. Putting your best foot forward becomes critical. And Ryan Reynolds has been doing that effectively.

Ryan Reynolds had to undergo rigorous training for his role in Deadpool & Wolverine 

Ryan Reynolds has had to put in long hours in the gym for his role in Deadpool & Wolverine | Marvel Studios

Essaying the role of Deadpool is no easy task. The anti-hero is one character who knows how to infuse life into the story, not only with the energy he brings to the table, but also as a result of the wide arsenal of action sequences at his disposal. Afterall Wade Wilson won’t be Wade Wilson without being the maverick he is.

And his training routine for Deadpool & Wolverine might give any professional a run for their money. And his trainer for the project, Don Saladino knows better than anyone how rigorous the entire process was, and how it would have almost broken anyone except Ryan Reynolds. After all not many can handle the toll of managing two roles.

Don Saladino and Ryan Reynolds have been working together for a long time

In a conversation with Men’s Health, Don Saladino opened up on his experience of working with Ryan Reynolds. The Red Notice star has been working with Saladino for well over 15 years. It thus comes as no shock that the two have gone on to become close friends over the years.

And that is why when the New York based strength coach makes a statement about the Free Guy star’s physique or mental strength, we can expect that he knows what he’s saying. In Saladino’s words, there is no such thing as ‘going easy’ in Reynolds’ vocabulary. And he was pushed to the hilt while prepping for Deadpool & Wolverine. 

Ryan Reynolds had to give everything he’s got for Deadpool & Wolverine 

Ryan Reynolds had to juggle between playing the role of an actor and a producer l Author: Chris Jackson Credits: Wikimedia Commons

When Saladino and Ryan Reynolds joined hands, the latter was about 32 or 33 years old. And while thier relationship (and training process) was undergoing constant evolution, this project tested The Proposal star’s resolve. Being a producer and actor at the same time meant that there was no such thing as an off-day for Reynolds. Explaining the situation, Saladino said,

“That’s what really becomes challenging working with these actors: it’s not like everyone thinks, [that] it’s all cushy. If he wakes up with a terrible sore throat, he’s puking, or whatever—it’s not like, ‘Oh, I can’t come in today.’ What are you fucking kidding me? There’s a hundred people down on set right now.” (Men’s Health)

And here is a guy who puts his best foot forward. Continuing, he said, “This is a guy that ‘going easy’ doesn’t exist in his vocabulary.”

One thing the trainer is thankful for is that Reynolds understands his limits (and to what extent should he push himself). It is only after years that the 47-year-old has learnt the importance of recovery. After having worked tirelessly for Deadpool & Wolverine, he atleast deserves a break.