Ryan Reynolds Says Sandra Bullock Helped Him Survive “Actor Jail” After Green Lantern Bombed
Ryan Reynolds is opening up about his rough patch in Hollywood — and how Sandra Bullock helped him through it.
During a candid conversation at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, the Deadpool star, 48, admitted he once felt like he was stuck in “actor jail” after a string of box-office bombs, including 2011’s Green Lantern and 2013’s R.I.P.D..
“I was not getting a lot of work,” Reynolds told the audience, explaining that the failures left him feeling like he had “no authorship” over his career. But he said starring alongside Bullock in 2009’s The Proposal gave him lessons he’d carry forward.
“When you’re working with someone like Sandra, it’s like playing tennis with a pro — you just get better,” he said. Beyond comedy skills, Reynolds praised Bullock’s grace in handling her career and public image, which inspired him to take control of his own path.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do that had I not worked with people like Sandra, and actors like Rachel Weisz,” Reynolds added, crediting his costars with teaching him how to survive Hollywood ups and downs.
That shift in mindset eventually led to his biggest gamble — and biggest win. Reynolds finally admitted he was the one who leaked test footage of Deadpool back in 2014, after studios initially resisted making the R-rated superhero movie.
“Yes, I cheated a little,” Reynolds confessed. “But I thought people would be interested — and they were.”
The risk paid off: Deadpool made more than $780 million worldwide, spawning two sequels including the 2024 smash Deadpool & Wolverine, which nearly doubled those numbers.
From career flops to superhero triumphs, Reynolds says he owes part of his resilience to the lessons he picked up from Bullock — proof that sometimes your best costars leave a mark far beyond the screen.
