Deadpool is still pitching hard at the box office, several weeks after its smash success and inception of the inevitable underdog sequel. The film, by many people’s standards, perfectly executed a riveting dance between profane tendencies and solid storytelling. One seemingly overlooked aspect was Deadpool’s “crush” on Bea Arthur, which received plenty of attention in the comic books themselves. And really, is it no wonder that Deadpool would choose Bea Arthur, who played Golden Girl Dorothy, as an object of his affections? Both are equally sarcastic and full of delicious mouthiness:
Yet it seemed that the late Arthur received short shrift in the cinematic adaptation of the Merc with the Mouth’s perilous adventures. In fact, Deadpool may have shifted alliances by favoring Betty White on his Christmas wishlist and also gleefully accepting White’s foul-mouthed review of the film itself. Did Deadpool’s loyalties shift?
No freaking way. The Hollywood Reporter reminds audiences that Ryan Reynolds did indeed wear an Arthur t-shirt during the film, and Reynolds went to great lengths to make this happen. A new piece from Hollywood Reporter goes old school (way back to 2004) for some thoughts from Deadpool writer Fabian Nicieza, who explains the antihero’s fascination with Arthur:
“It had been the first time I’d written Deadpool in 10 years, so I wanted to recapture his voice immediately, as well as his loneliness. The TV [was] talking about naming ‘The World’s Sexiest Woman’ and he shouts out, ‘Bea Arthur!’ It turns out to be Halle Berry and that upset Wade to no end. I was simply channeling Deadpool’s very idiosyncratic – or insane – point of view on things, plus alluding to his co-dependent relationship with [his elderly woman sidekick] Blind Al. Who would Wade consider sexy?”
Nicieza explains how Deadpool would prefer someone who’s the precise opposite of Berry, and Arthur fit the bill. Reynolds felt it was important to somehow represent the late Arthur in the film, so he contacted her son, Daniel Saks, for special permission to use her likeness onscreen. Saks explains why he said yes:
“I was on Dharma & Greg on Stage 21 at Fox when Ryan was on Stage 20 doing Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place. He was always a nice guy, and the fact that it was him gave it more weight with me and my brother, Matthew. We thought, ‘Why not?'”
It’s amazing how Two Guys and a Girl still carries so much goodwill, and Reynolds’ inherent awesomeness brought Deadpool’s Arthur crush alive for the masses. Surely, Betty White won’t be too upset by this revelation, but you never know. There’s always the sequel if she’d like to make an appearance. For what it’s worth (and it’s plenty), Saks believes Arthur would have loved her cameo because of Deadpool’s “sardonic sarcasticness.” Indeed.
(Via Hollywood Reporter)
