Ryan Reynolds Reveals Madonna's Ideal Advice for Using 'Like a Prayer' in Deadpool and Wolverine

The upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine movie is significant not only for uniting two beloved Marvel characters but also for featuring a rare use of Madonna's iconic song "Like a Prayer." Stars Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy recently shared an intriguing story about how they secured the rights to this legendary track.

To obtain permission, the team had to meet with Madonna herself. During this face-to-face encounter, they demonstrated exactly how they intended to incorporate her song into the film.

“She gave a great note. My God, she watched it and I'm not kidding, just was like, ‘You need to do this, this, and this in this moment,' and damn it, if she wasn't spot on and right,” Reynolds revealed during a SiriusXM Town Hall special hosted by Jess Cagle.

“We literally went into a new recording session within 48 hours to do this one note. She had only one note and it was a great note, and it made the sequence better,” Levy added.

Although they did not disclose the specific feedback from Madonna, "Like a Prayer" features prominently in the film's first trailer. Reynolds highlighted the rarity of securing any Madonna song, especially one of her biggest hits. Levy speculated that their connection might have been enhanced because Madonna's son is a fan of the franchise.

“Madonna doesn't just license the song, you know, and particularly that song has not been licensed,” Reynolds explained. “So, it was a big deal to ask for it and certainly a bigger deal to use it. We went over and met with her and showed her how it was being used and where and why.”

“It did feel like we were meeting royalty. I'll say that,” Levy remarked.

“Well, of course. I even asked someone who worked with her. I was like, ‘Am I allowed to just say Madonna? Like, ‘Hello Madonna?'” Reynolds shared.

Reynolds described the meeting as one of the “great thrills of my life,” while Levy called it “one of the most fun evenings we've had.”

As the first R-rated movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Deadpool & Wolverine continues from its predecessors in the franchise. It features Hugh Jackman reprising his role from X-Men, marking its entry into MCU Phase 5. Set six years after Deadpool 2, Deadpool is pulled from retirement by the Time Variance Authority (TVA) for a mission alongside Wolverine that promises to reshape MCU history. The film is set to hit U.S. theaters on July 26.