‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Celebrates Friendship, Ryan Reynolds Says

Canadian-US actor Ryan Reynolds (L) and Australian actor Hugh Jackman pose on the red carpet upon arrival to attend the UK sneak peek event for "Deadpool & Wolverine", at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, west London on July 11, 2024. (AFP)
Canadian-US actor Ryan Reynolds (L) and Australian actor Hugh Jackman pose on the red carpet upon arrival to attend the UK sneak peek event for "Deadpool & Wolverine", at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, west London on July 11, 2024. (AFP)
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‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Celebrates Friendship, Ryan Reynolds Says

Canadian-US actor Ryan Reynolds (L) and Australian actor Hugh Jackman pose on the red carpet upon arrival to attend the UK sneak peek event for "Deadpool & Wolverine", at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, west London on July 11, 2024. (AFP)
Canadian-US actor Ryan Reynolds (L) and Australian actor Hugh Jackman pose on the red carpet upon arrival to attend the UK sneak peek event for "Deadpool & Wolverine", at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, west London on July 11, 2024. (AFP)

The global promotional tour for "Deadpool & Wolverine" touched down in London on Thursday, with stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman bringing their bromance to the movie's UK sneak peek event.

The two have entertained fans with their humorous, high-energy appearances at previous stops in Shanghai, Seoul and Berlin.

The third installment in the "Deadpool" movie franchise sees Jackman's Wolverine return from retirement to help wise-cracking Deadpool (Reynolds) save his world.

"It's about friendship," said Reynolds, who also co-wrote and produced the film.

"There's so many moments in the movie where it's hard to tell if Deadpool's talking to Wolverine, Wolverine talking to Deadpool, or it's Hugh and Ryan talking to each other. And I'm really proud of those moments."

Jackman had not planned to reprise the role of the gruff, clawed X-Man Wolverine. But the Australian actor said his mind started changing after he watched the first "Deadpool" film.

"It was something in here," he said, pointing at his heart. "I really thought I was done. And then, five or six years later, I was driving and I just knew in my bones I wanted to do that."

"I knew for fans it would be the thing they'd waited for, I knew it'd be a kind of dynamic that we've never seen before. I had no idea how hard it would be physically at age 55 to do it but it's absolutely worth it. I have loved every second."

Secrecy surrounds the film's plot details. Respecting the characters and their legacy was at the heart of the writing process, said director and co-writer Shawn Levy.

"But then we pushed them into areas that other movies haven't," he said. "I think you're going to see some aspects to both their performances that are quite different than what we've seen in their prior films."

The only Marvel-Disney movie released this year, "Deadpool & Wolverine" is expected to be a box office hit when it begins its global cinematic rollout on July 24.

"There is a lot riding on it but we've worked really hard to deliver the goods," said Levy.

"I focus on the opportunity, not the expectation. The creative opportunity to connect with a huge global audience in a new way, in a surprising and fresh way, that was delicious," he said.

For Reynolds, 47, releasing the film to the world comes with other concerns.

"I feel like I've waited my entire life to do this one movie. The only problem that poses is I don't know what the hell we're supposed to do next."



Don’t Panic! Taylor Swift Warns Fans to Expect Sirens for WWII Anniversary in Warsaw Before Concert 

A steward guides fans of US singer Taylor Swift, also known as Swifties, as they arrive to buy merchandise outside the National Stadium in Warsaw on July 31, 2024, a day before the first of three shows of the pop star's Eras Tour. (AFP)
A steward guides fans of US singer Taylor Swift, also known as Swifties, as they arrive to buy merchandise outside the National Stadium in Warsaw on July 31, 2024, a day before the first of three shows of the pop star's Eras Tour. (AFP)
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Don’t Panic! Taylor Swift Warns Fans to Expect Sirens for WWII Anniversary in Warsaw Before Concert 

A steward guides fans of US singer Taylor Swift, also known as Swifties, as they arrive to buy merchandise outside the National Stadium in Warsaw on July 31, 2024, a day before the first of three shows of the pop star's Eras Tour. (AFP)
A steward guides fans of US singer Taylor Swift, also known as Swifties, as they arrive to buy merchandise outside the National Stadium in Warsaw on July 31, 2024, a day before the first of three shows of the pop star's Eras Tour. (AFP)

Taylor Swift is telling fans traveling to her concert in Warsaw on Thursday to not panic, and expect to hear loud sirens in the afternoon honoring a key World War II anniversary.

The Polish capital is holding observances to mark the 80th anniversary of the start of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, a 63-day revolt by Polish insurgents after five years of brutal Nazi German occupation. The entire city stops and alarm sirens sound every year on Aug. 1 at the exact time in the afternoon when the revolt was launched.

“To the people who are coming to the concert on August 1st don’t panic if you heard sirens alarm about 5p.m. It will be 80th anniversary & planes!” Swift's “The Eras Tour” posted on social media.

Thousands of ticket-holders, many who are traveling to Warsaw from afar, will be in or near the stadium at that time already for the evening performance.

A Polish news site, Onet, also published an “important message for all Swifties who are going to the concert” explaining the significance of the day.

“We ask you to remain calm and not to panic. In this way every year residents pay tribute to the heroes of 1944. Those who will be at that moment already outside the stadium, please remain quiet and get up.”

Swift is performing for three consecutive nights in Warsaw starting Thursday.

On Aug. 1, 1944, poorly armed young city residents rose up against the German forces that had brutally occupied their nation for five years, battling them in the streets of the capital for over two months. The Soviets were approaching in their march westward against the German forces, and the Poles held out hope for help.

The Germans, with their professional army and superior weaponry, killed 200,000 Polish fighters and civilians and razed the city in revenge.

Germany in past decades has made many gestures of remorse, helping to bring about reconciliation.

Poles, however, remain bitter toward the Soviets for allowing the slaughter when they could have intervened.

Today the uprising is remembered by Poles as one of the most important moments in a long history of independence struggles against Russia and Germany.