Deadpool and Wolverine Nearly Had a Musical Number to Classic Elton John Song

Spoilers for “Deadpool & Wolverine” follow.

The soundtrack to Shawn Levy’s new superhero film “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the 158th addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is packed with ironic musical selections. It uses prominent needle drops and bombastic musical cues to amplify the film’s satirical tone.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” kicks off with a violent fight scene where Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) uses the adamantium bones of the deceased Logan as weapons to kill dozens of people. During this scene, *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” plays, adding a playful contrast to the brutality.

Later in the movie, Deadpool and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) engage in a bloody, drawn-out fight inside a Honda minivan. They inadvertently switch on the radio, which starts playing “You’re the One That I Want” from “Grease,” further enhancing the scene’s comedic absurdity.

Other songs featured in the soundtrack include Chris de Burgh’s “The Lady in Red,” Eric Carman’s “Make Me Lose Control,” and Patsy Cline’s “You Belong to Me.” The soundtrack’s mellow vibe stands in stark contrast to the film’s chaotic energy.

Interestingly, Ryan Reynolds originally envisioned including a notable Elton John song. In a recent BBC1 interview, Reynolds revealed he wanted “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” for a scene in an early draft of the script.

During the BBC interview, Reynolds admitted that the song was part of an early draft. The conversation spun off into musings on whether “Deadpool & Wolverine” should have been a full-blown musical. Reynolds did not divulge the context for including “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” in the script, but it sparks curiosity. Perhaps Wade sang it after facing rejection from the Avengers.

Reynolds, Jackman, and BBC host Greg James didn’t dwell long on the topic. They found humor in imagining Wolverine singing. Jackman, renowned for his roles in stage musicals and the film “The Greatest Showman,” joked that Wolverine would need to sing like Joe Cocker or Barry White. Reynolds envisioned Wolverine singing a Tom Waits song, humorously suggesting that Wolverine might bellow Waits’ “Temptation.”

Reynolds shared a funny anecdote about Jackman. He recalled Jackman visiting his home and performing live to “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack before Reynolds arrived. Reynolds jokingly noted that he didn’t even need to meet Jackman’s usual $112 million film quote for the performance.

Elton John, a fan of Reynolds’ reality show “Welcome to Wrexham,” has praised Reynolds and Rob McElhenney for their work with the Wrexham football club. John appreciated their efforts in revitalizing the club. It’s unfortunate that Reynolds couldn’t reciprocate the nod to John with a cameo of “Blues” in the film. Such is life.