Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Continue Their Hilarious Fake Feud

Why do Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman keep up their fake feud?

Their playful rivalry dates back to 2009, when they first crossed paths on the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and has stretched across 15 years of social media jabs, promotional stunts, and charitable tie-ins.^[1][2] It's all in good fun, a manufactured conflict that masks a genuine friendship, yet it persists as a way to entertain fans and boost their brands.^[3][4]

Trace the spark on set

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman met during the filming of X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009, where Jackman, already married to Deborra-Lee Furness, pulled Reynolds aside for a word about his co-star and future wife, Scarlett Johansson.^[1][2] Jackman later recalled asking Reynolds to treat her well, a moment that set the tone for their banter.^[8] But also, that same encounter planted the seeds for a feud that's more performance than personal grudge, turning a simple warning into ongoing comedy gold.^[9]

The exchange wasn't hostile; it was protective, born from Jackman's concern for his colleague.^[1] Reynolds, playing the wisecracking Wade Wilson, leaned into the humor, and soon their interactions off-camera fueled a public persona of rivalry.^[4] Over time, this evolved into a signature bit, with each man poking at the other in interviews and posts.^[2] Yet beneath it, their real bond shows in collaborative moments, like when they posed for a photo with a young boy at a New York City school in May 2021.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

Escalate through pranks and ads

By 2018, the feud had hit a new gear, with Reynolds releasing a fake political ad on November 2 that painted Jackman as a fraud from Milwaukee, all to hype Jackman's film The Front Runner.^[1][4] Jackman fired back through social media, keeping the cycle alive.^[2] But also, these antics weren't random; they tied directly to their careers, blending promotion with play.^[8]

A month later, on December 4, Reynolds upped the ante on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, declaring "war" on Jackman amid the actor's retirement from playing Wolverine.^[1][4] The timing was perfect, capitalizing on fan nostalgia for the character Reynolds would later revive as Deadpool.^[3] Their exchanges spilled onto platforms like Twitter and Instagram, drawing millions of views.^[2] One standout prank came when Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal tricked Reynolds into showing up at a holiday party in an ugly Christmas sweater, capturing the moment for laughs.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

The feud took a charitable turn too, as when they brought it to a Sam's Club event for a good cause, turning rivalry into fundraising.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} Jackman even urged fans in one post to urinate on Reynolds' Hollywood Walk of Fame star, a absurd escalation that underscored the feud's over-the-top nature.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} These moments, while public and polished, reveal a calculated effort to engage audiences.^[5]

Call truces, only to break them

In January 2019, Reynolds declared an "official truce" on Twitter, teasing a crossover ad for Jackman's Laughing Man Coffee and his own Aviation Gin, which Jackman matched with his own spot.^[1][2][3] It felt like closure, a mutual promotion that highlighted their brands.^[7] But also, the peace was short-lived; by December of that year, Reynolds revived the insults on Today Show Australia, labeling Jackman a "fraud" and "evil person" during 6 Underground promo, met with Jackman's Instagram post of Wolverine giving Deadpool the finger.^[1]

The pattern repeated in 2020, when Jackman paused the feud for the All-In Challenge on April 24, noting on Today that their wives—Blake Lively and Deborra-Lee Furness—helped set up a lemonade stand collab.^[2] This showed the rivalry's flexibility, bending for charity without losing its edge.^[6] Yet it bounced back, proving the feud's endurance as a reliable hook.^[4]

Fast-forward to March 2024, and a YouTube compilation rounded up 15 years of highlights—from pranks to product plugs—just before Deadpool & Wolverine hit theaters, reminding fans of the duo's chemistry.^[3][9] These breaks and restarts keep it fresh, a rhythm like a well-matched doubles tennis rally, where every volley builds anticipation.^[2]

"When we are together outside of our public persona taking the piss out of each other, most of our conversations are very vulnerable."

— Ryan Reynolds^[10]

Reynolds' words capture the core: the public jabs are just that—public. Private talks run deeper, full of openness that the feud never touches.^[10] But also, this contrast fuels the appeal, letting fans enjoy the surface-level chaos while sensing the underlying trust.^[9]

Unpack the feud's appeal

What started as a light-hearted set warning in 2009 has become a 15-year spectacle, blending Hollywood promotion with personal charm.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} Reynolds and Jackman have turned it into a brand of its own, from fake ads to charity drives.^[4] But also, it's a window into their friendship, where mock hostility amplifies real affection.^[8]

Their interactions, like the 2021 school photo or the Sam's Club outing, mix the scripted beef with unscripted warmth.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} Fans eat it up, as seen in viral compilations that rack up views.^[2][3] Yet the line between fake and real blurs at times, adding layers to their dynamic.^[9]

Elements like the exact wording of Jackman's initial Johansson warning or the full details of every ad remain fuzzy, beyond broad outlines from interviews.^[1][2] The Sam's Club event's precise charitable goal stays vague in reports, and while wives played a role in collabs, Lively's direct hand in truces isn't pinned down.^[2][5][6] These gaps highlight how much of the feud thrives on implication rather than ironclad facts, letting the humor fill in the blanks.^[4]

Watch for the next volley

With Deadpool & Wolverine now out, their on-screen team-up could shift the off-screen script, blending the characters' history with the actors' real rapport.^[3] Will the fake feud fade into actual partnership, or will it adapt to poke fun at their shared success? The coming months, filled with press tours and fan events, will show if this 15-year routine evolves or endures as is.^[8][9]

Frequently asked questions

When did Hugh Jackman trace the feud's origins?

Hugh Jackman traced the feud's origins in a 2020 interview for The Daily Beast.

What did Ryan Reynolds call Hugh Jackman while plugging 6 Underground?

Ryan Reynolds branded Hugh Jackman a fraud while plugging 6 Underground on Australia's Today Show.

What did Ryan Reynolds promise as an olive branch?

Ryan Reynolds promised an ad for Laughing Man Coffee as an olive branch.