Ryan Reynolds claps back at criticism over Andrew Garfield pairing for Variety's 'Actors on Actors'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ryan Reynolds responded to the unforeseen backlash regarding him being paired with Andrew Garfield for Variety's upcoming 'Actors on Actors' series.

Every year the publication orchestrates a series of discussions between pairs of actors, which are then filmed and released. Aside from Reynolds and Garfield, the latest edition is set to feature other pairings like Saoirse Ronan with Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande with Paul Mescal, and Nicole Kidman with Zendaya, among others. 

Ryan Reynolds and Andrew Garfield's 'Actors on Actors' pairing surprises fans

Ryan Reynolds and Andrew Garfield's pairing has surprised some, with a viral post highlighting the contrast between their projects this year— the comedic sequel 'Deadpool & Wolverine' and the A24 drama 'We Live In Time', respectively.

In a post that has since been removed from X (formerly Twitter), a user shared the 'Actors on Actors' list and stated, "Andrew Garfield talking about playing a husband and father who’s wife decides to forgo cancer treatment and Ryan Reynolds talking about playing Deadpool," according to Variety.

Ryan Reynolds speaks up in defense of comedy

Ryan Reynolds, celebrated for his sharp humor and self-effacing jokes, didn't shy away from directly confronting the negative response, particularly the attempt at pitting comedy against drama. 

He wrote, "Correct. Andrew’s a genius. He and Florence are magic together in, WE LIVE IN TIME. They’re heartbreaking and charming and spend the entire film in a high-wire act of humanity and constraint."

"And yes I am Deadpool BUT I will take a second and speak up in defense of comedy. Dramatic work is difficult. And we’re also meant to SEE it’s difficult which is one of the reasons it feels visceral and effective," he added.

"Comedy is also very difficult. But has an added dimension in that it’s meant to look and feel effortless. You intentionally hide the stitching and unstitching," asserted the 'Free Guy' actor. 

"I think both disciplines are beautiful. And both work beautifully together. Comedy and drama subsist on tension. Both thrive when subverting expectation. Both thrive backstopped by real emotion. And both are deeply subjective. Your favourite comedy might be Anchorman. Mine might be Lars Von Trier’s, Melancholia," Reynolds concluded. 

The pair's interview is set to kick off the new season of 'Actors on Actors' on December 9.