Deadpool & Wolverine, the second highest-grossing film of 2024, was a smash hit with fans and critics. The movie brings Reynolds back as the fan-favorite Wade Wilson/ Deadpool, as well as Hugh Jackman as Wolverine after “retiring” from the superhero world, as well as a series of beloved characters from the MCU. The film also introduces a series of Deadpool variants, and some fans on X believe that Nicepool was Reynolds’ way of making fun of Baldoni.
It Ends With Us was also a huge success when it premiered over the summer, and even rivaled Deadpool & Wolverine for the first spot at the box office. However, the drama in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s hit novel was nothing compared to what happened in real life. Blake Lively received criticism for how she tackled the promotion of the film, which tackles domestic violence, and rumors claimed she also tried to take control over the film. Months later, she hit Baldoni, her co-star the film’s director and producer, with a lawsuit. In return, he filed a different one, and the internet is divided when it comes to the side they believe.
Some fans online believed Reynolds based one of his Deadpool variants, Nicepool, on Baldoni, which is the only version that shows his face and doesn’t have regenerative powers or any superpowers. Ladypool, played by Blake Lively, is one of the reasons fans believe so. One person wrote, “Can someone please explain to me why Nicepool looks so much like Justin Baldoni in July 2023? He even jokes about Ladypool’s post-pregnancy body! Deadpool shielded himself with Nicepool’s mortal body (the only one). What did he mean? The more I see, the more confused I get.”
Can someone please explain to me why Nicepool looks so much like Justin Baldoni in July 2023? He even jokes about Ladypool’s post-pregnancy body! Deadpool shielded himself with Nicepool’s mortal body (the only one). What did he mean? The more I see, the more confused I get. — Desabafando ao Universo (@desabauniverso) January 5, 2025
The same person continued, “Oh, no! And who ordered the shooting that hit Nicepool, who was also the main shooter? Ladypool. Too many ‘coincidences’.”
Another said, “I’ve seen some people suggest that Nicepool was a unsubtle jab at Justin Baldoni. And that makes a lot of sense to me idk.”
I’ve seen some people suggest that Nicepool was a unsubtle jab at Justin Baldoni And that makes a lot of sense to me idk pic.twitter.com/SqpzMYdikw — Monkee D. Hernandy (@hernandy_s) December 28, 2024
A different one added a clip of several Nicepool scenes, adding, “Someone on TikTok posited that Nicepool in Deadpool & Wolverine is supposed to be Justin Baldoni. Putting these two clips together and considering Blake Lively played Ladypool, it makes a pretty strong case.”
Someone on TikTok posited that Nicepool in “Deadpool & Wolverine” is supposed to be Justin Baldoni. Putting these two clips together and considering Blake Lively played Ladypool, it makes a pretty strong case. pic.twitter.com/SFTKaWXd8r — melanism (@Melanism) January 2, 2025
@lily_marston @jessismiles__ I can’t find the tik tok video but have y’all seen the theories that Ryan Reynolds made Nicepool ( dead pool and wolverine character) based off of Justin Baldoni?? Like man bun version 😲 — Carmen (@Carmenxxjxx) January 4, 2025
I can’t think of Nicepool the same way again after the rumor of Ryan Reynolds basing him off of Justin Baldoni — Indiana Old Really Likes Nosferatu (@IndianaOld1899) January 2, 2025
A different one asked an important question about the ongoing rumor: “if nicepool was a reference justin baldoni… why would you playfully play the man who sex*ually assaulted your wife?” As a note, Lively has never accused Baldoni of sexual assault. She has, instead, accused him of sexual harassment in her lawsuit, claiming he and producer Jamey Heath would come into her trailer when she was undressed.
if nicepool was a reference justin baldoni… why would you playfully play the man who sex*ually assaulted your wife? — ✿ well ✿ (@dojasbin) January 5, 2025
Some fans believe Reynolds shaped Nicepool after Baldoni because of the man bun the actor used to wear until 2023, as well as the comments on Ladypool’s post-baby body. “Oh my goodness, wait til you’ve seen Ladypool. She is gorgeous. She just had a baby too and [you] can’t even tell.” In her lawsuit, Lively accused Baldoni of fat-shaming her and claimed he wanted to send her to a trainer to lose weight. While Deadpool added, “I don’t think you’re supposed to say that,” Nicepool replied, “That’s OK. I identify as a feminist.”
Could Nicepool Be Inspired by Justin Baldoni?
The internet is merely speculating based on several he-said-she-said notes from both lawsuits, and there is no evidence Ryan Reynolds used one of his characters to shade Baldoni. Based on dates alone, Reynolds couldn’t have sneaked the reference in Deadpool & Wolverine. The actor is credited as a co-writer and producer in the film and has been involved in many aspects of the film, as he confirmed in several interviews, which could’ve given him the opportunity to do so if he wanted to, but the timeline doesn’t check out.
Deadpool & Wolverine started filming on May 22, 2023, and, like many other productions, was affected by the SAG-AFTRA strikes. The movie started filming again on Nov. 23, and filming wrapped on Jan. 24, as Reynolds confirmed online.
Meanwhile, It Ends With Us started production on May 5, 2023, and was also affected by the SAG-AFTRA strikes. Filming resumed on Jan 5, 2024 until July 14, 2024. Lively’s lawsuit mentions a meeting at the Lively-Reynolds residence ahead of the resume of filming, where she presented Baldoni a letter filed with the California Civil Rights Department about the mistreatment on the set. Both films were filmed at the same time, and, while it might’ve been possible for Reynolds to use inspiration from Lively’s alleged hard time on set, the filming dates alone prove it’s highly unlikely.
Deadpool & Wolverine is available to stream on Disney+, while It Ends With Us is streaming on Netflix.
