Hollywood Actor Ryan Reynolds Clarifies His Political Stance: "I'm Not a MAGA Supporter. I'm Not an Extreme Advocate for Any Ideology"

Ryan Reynolds, the Hollywood actor and producer, attended the Toronto Film Festival this week. During his time there, he participated in an informal conversation and made several notable revelations.

Reynolds, who is best known for his role as Deadpool, Hollywood's first R-rated superhero pic, shared that his experience with the superhero genre began with Martin Campbell's Green Lantern. He considers this movie as a pivotal moment in his career.

However, Reynolds' breakthrough came much earlier, with his role in the Canadian YTV teen series Fifteen (also known as Hillside) in 1991. This was followed by his star turn in the comedy Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place. It was during this show that Danny Jacobson, the series creator, advised him to take control of the stage and seize the spotlight, a piece of advice that changed the course of his career.

Reynolds credited his upbringing in Vancouver and his training in improv comedy for making him collaborative and willing to learn on film sets. This collaborative spirit was on display during the Toronto Film Festival, where he discussed the Canadian film industry with director Colin Hanks, who directed the documentary "John Candy: I Like Me," which Reynolds also produced.

The world premiere of "John Candy: I Like Me" took place during the festival, and Reynolds was emotional while recalling John Candy's struggle with personal ghosts and trauma. He praised Candy as a performer who struggled with mental health issues, and he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to honour Candy's legacy through the documentary.

In addition to discussing his work, Reynolds also shared his views on the current state of Hollywood. He admitted to shaking his head over some giant tentpole budgets in the industry and criticized identity politics as too divisive and binary. Instead, he insists that constraint and pressure will create asymmetric thought and help think outside the box in film production.

Reynolds also made it clear that he is not associated with any political movements, stating that he is not MAGA or extreme anything. He prefers to focus on his work and approach superhero movies without overthinking them. According to Reynolds, he writes scripts because they make him laugh or because he wants to say something.

The Toronto Film Festival continues through Sept. 14, and it is clear that Reynolds' involvement in "John Candy: I Like Me" has been a highlight of this year's event. Fans of Reynolds and Candy alike are sure to be excited about the documentary and the insights it provides into the lives and careers of these two iconic figures.