Deadpool fans think Ryan Reynolds’ Nicepool is a Justin Baldoni reference

nme.com:

Marvel fans have been posting new theories online about Ryan Reynolds’ portrayal of the character Nicepool in 2024 hit Deadpool & Wolverine, believing it may be an unflattering portrayal of It Ends With Us star Justin Baldoni.In the film, Nicepool is a seemingly more agreeable variant of the lead character, and a lot of the speculation stems from the characters mannerisms, hairstyle, and particularly his assertion of progressive beliefs that contradict his actions.When Nicepool first appears he makes a comment on the character Ladypool’s (Blake Lively) body.

When Deadpool (also Reynolds) asks if he’s sure he’s allowed to say that, Nicepool replies “It’s OK, I identify as a feminist”.Online theories posit that the character may be based on Baldoni, who is in a legal battle with Reynolds’ wife, Blake Lively.

The two starred in romantic drama It Ends With Us, and recently Lively launched a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment by Baldoni on the set of the film, as well as claiming he conducted a smear campaign against her.Denying the accusations, Baldoni has launched a lawsuit against The New York Times, who reported the case, and has pledged to counter-sue his former co-star.

His lawyer Bryan Freedman told CBS News that the newspaper “aided and abetted” a “smear campaign designed to revitalise Lively’s… floundering public image”.With this in mind, social media users have theorised that Nicepool’s portrayal as an insincere feminist may be Reynolds’ caricature of Baldoni, and one post uses a deleted scene to further that idea.