Ryan Reynolds was convinced that Deadpool would not be a success.

The lines between Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool have begun to blur, as though he was born to play the Merc with a mouth, and the world agrees. Although, this wasn’t always the case, and fans weren’t always happy with his take on the character. After the failure of Wolverine: Origins, making a film centered around Deadpool was a very big gamble. The character was completely changed in the film, and fans lost their trust in the creators.
A still from Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool I 20th Century Fox
Many fans know that Reynolds put all of his efforts and energy into giving fans the character they wanted. He even played the role of producer, making sure that everything was exactly how it should have been in the first place.

However, it would seem that the actor sacrificed money from his own pocket to make sure everything was perfect.

Ryan Reynolds Put His Heart and Soul Into Deadpool

When Ryan Reynolds was making the first Deadpool film, he was under a lot of pressure. His previous attempt at the character had failed miserably after some creative liberties were taken. While the studio had green-lit the project after seeing the first clip of the movie, they were still very strict about the money and effort they were putting into the project, not wanting to create another flop film.
A still from X-Men Origins: Wolverine | 20th Century Studios
During a recent interview with Variety, Reynolds actually addressed the pressure he was going through when the first film was being made. Interestingly enough, he did not have much hope to begin with.

No part of me was thinking when ‘Deadpool’ was finally greenlit that this would be a success. I even let go of getting paid to do the movie just to put it back on the screen.

A still from the trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine  I 20th Century Fox
Even though the movie was already in production and attempting to morph into something worthwhile, the actor was convinced that it was not going to do very well. Additionally, he revealed that he also let go of his own salary for the film to make sure it had as much money as possible.

Profits Were Not Priorities

Ryan Reynolds elaborated on how he was not given a salary when he was working on the first Deadpool film, revealing that there was a very specific reason for it. While the movie was praised in a lot of different aspects, it was specifically its writing that brought it to life. The jokes were excellent, and every single part of the movie was entertaining in every way.
A still from Deadpool I 20th Century Fox
This was not a coincidence but an active effort by Reynolds. The actor revealed that when the movie was in production, he wanted to bring his co-writers, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, onto the project. At the time, neither of the two had been in any notable projects, which is why the studio decided against it to cut corners.

They wouldn’t allow my co-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick on set, so I took the little salary I had left and paid them to be on set with me so we could form a de facto writers room.

However, Reynolds knew their value and just how well they could aid the film in the best ways possible. Weighing the costs himself, the actor decided to give up the little money that he was earning to make sure he could get the writers’ room he wanted.
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool | 20th Century Studios.
Reynolds is now a very wealthy man, having multiple blockbuster films, as well as several business ventures that have made his net worth $350 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.