Hugh Jackman pleaded with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday not to nominate Ryan Reynolds and an outstanding number in his Apple musical “Spirited” for Best Original Song.
The “Logan” star said he wanted to share a positive message for the new year, “but recent events have made that impossible,” referring to the fact that “Good Afternoon,” sung by Reynolds, was shortlisted for Best Original Song.
“Now Ryan Reynolds getting a nomination in the Best Song category would make the next year of my life unbearable. I have to spend a year with him shooting [the third] dead pool [film]Jackman explained. “Trust me, it would be impossible. It would be a problem.
(Jackman announced in September that he will reprise his role as Wolverine in the upcoming “Deadpool” sequel.)
“Spirited,” an Apple Originals Christmas movie that co-stars Will Ferrell and Octavia Spencer, played for a week in Los Angeles before its release on Apple TV+, making it eligible for Oscar consideration, under the rules of The academy. “Good Afternoon” was written by Khiyon Hursey, Sukari Jones, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Mark Sonnenblick, so it would be them who would win a nomination, not Reynolds, although it could still mean an invite to, say, sing it at the Oscar (Plus, it turns out the theme song was his idea in the first place!)
“So, to recap, I love ‘Spirited,’ I love Will, I love Octavia, I love the song ‘Good Afternoon,’ I love Benj and Justin,” Jackman ends in the video. “But please, from the bottom of my heart, don’t validate Ryan Reynolds like this. Please,” Jackman concluded in the video of him.
Watch it below.
