Olivia Munn Explains Why She Said No to 'Deadpool'
At least Olivia Munn has a valid reason for rejecting "Deadpool" in favor of "X-Men: Apocalypse," even if Captain Hindsight might declare that a bad call.
Munn is on the new cover of American Way Magazine, talking about her role as sword-wielding telepathic mutant Psylocke in "Apocalypse," which opens May 27. Munn said when she was offered Psyclocke, she was warned that there wouldn't be much dialogue, but she'd have "an important presence" in the movie. Munn said that was OK as long as there was a fight sequence, 'cause she wanted in on that. "The fight scene," told the magazine with a smile, "could be her monologue."
However, she had been offered a role in a very different "X-Men" film, "Deadpool," playing the girlfriend of Ryan Reynolds's Wade Wilson. That role eventually went to Morena Baccarin, 'cause Munn turned it down.
Why? She didn't want to play "the girlfriend." Not again. Not even this guy's girlfriend:
That's why she went for Psylocke instead, despite "Deadpool" going on to be a fan favorite and top R-rated movie around the world. "I thought Psylocke was always one of the most lethal characters, and I said, 'Yes, as long as you're not using her to be the eye candy. She has really powerful abilities.' And they said, 'Yes, that's an important part.'"
So she took that role, and ended up on the cover of Entertainment Weekly in character. But months before the film came out, when she was talking to American Way, she sounded braced for disappointment. "You can do the first-look cover on Entertainment Weekly, but if they've chopped up some stuff or taken out moments and the fight scene is reduced for whatever reason, then the moment is gone."
That was a while ago, and you have to hope that by now she's seen the finished product and approves. She is featured in the trailers, but so are a dozen other characters. But good for her for taking a stand against more roles as "the girlfriend." It's good to draw the line, even if she might regret drawing it before such a hit movie. But she may never regret it at all, and that's even better.
Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.