Ryan Reynolds and his “Deadpool & Wolverine” director Shawn Levy revealed during an interview on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM radio show (via People) that they met with Madonna in person in order to secure the rights to use “Like a Prayer” in the upcoming Marvel tentpole. The music icon agreed, and the song ended up playing a prominent role in both the film and various trailers for it.
“It did involve a personal visit to Madonna, where we showed Madonna the sequence where ‘Like a Prayer’ would be used,” Levy said.
“Also, let’s preface it with the fact that they don’t license — that Madonna doesn’t just license the song, particularly that song,” Reynolds added. “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 and sort of showed her how it was being used, and where, and why.”
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Not only did Madonna allow Reynolds and team “Deadpool & Wolverine” to use “Like a Prayer” in their Marvel film, but she also offered up a note on how it should be used. Not that Reynolds is revealing the specifics of said note just yet.
“She gave a great note,” Reynolds said. “She watched it, and I’m not kidding, [she said], ‘You need to do this.’ And damn it, if she wasn’t like spot on.”
“We literally went into a new recording session within 48 hours to do this note. … It made the sequence better,” Levy added.
In addition to Madonna, the soundtrack for “Deadpool & Wolverine” includes songs from *NSYNC, The Goo Goo Dolls, Fergie, Avril Lavigne, Aretha Franklin, Green Day and the Hugh Jackman-starring musical “The Greatest Showman,” among other tracks.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” opens in theaters July 26 from Disney.
