“Deadpool 3 ”director says a 'key scene' in the film“ ”is inspired by Star Wars: 'This is the Jedi“ ”moment'
Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy's superhero threequel is drawing inspiration from a galaxy far, far away for one of its most important scenes.
In an essay for Esquire, Levy reflected on the "authentic, communal event" that is watching a blockbuster film in a packed theater and how it causes viewers to be both moved by what's on screen as well as the people around them. To prove his point, the filmmaker recalled the stunned silence that surrounded him while watching Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader interact in 1983's Return of the Jedi.
"I vividly remember the scene in which Luke is hiding from Vader in the Emperor's room and Vader gives the speech that ends with 'If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps your sister will.' It was dead quiet. Pin-drop silence," Levy wrote, noting that the "forty seconds of stillness from the audience, then the spectacle and emotion" that played out onscreen remains seared "not just in my eyeballs but in my heart to this day."
It's that particular scene — and the visceral emotion that it drew from the crowd — that Levy is set to pay tribute to during a pivotal moment in Deadpool 3.
"For one key scene in the movie, I said to my stunt and action team, 'Guys, this is the Jedi moment,'" he said. "I pulled up that scene of Vader and Luke on my phone and restudied how it was photographed, how it was blocked, the framing, the tempo."
Everett Collection (2) 'Deadpool' and 'Star Wars: Return of the Jedi'
Levy, who is in the process of developing his very own Star Wars film, noted that eagle-eyed fans will be able to "see the shot in my Deadpool movie" that inspired him all those years ago. He added, "That's a forever memory. And that's a treasure."
Deadpool 3, which boasts Ryan Reynolds as everyone's favorite Merc with a mouth as well as Hugh Jackman's return as Wolverine, paused production in July due to the ongoing actors' strike. The film, which also stars Emma Corrin and Rob Delaney, is still currently set to be released in theaters on May 3, 2024.
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