Matthew Lawrence recently opened up about his experience working with Ryan Reynolds on the set of their 1998 film Boltneck during an episode of the Lawrence brothers’ podcast, Brotherly Love. The discussion sheds light on how Reynolds, a rising star at the time, was allegedly difficult to work with due to his creative differences with the film’s producers and directors.

Lawrence, recalling the film’s production, shared that Reynolds was a bit of a rebel on set, often clashing with those in charge. At the heart of these tensions was Reynolds’ desire to put his own spin on his character, even though the producers had specific ideas for his role. According to Lawrence, Reynolds’ approach was compared to an impersonation of Jim Carrey, which the producers did not want. They allegedly told him, “Ryan, this is a bad Jim Carrey impersonation. We don’t want this. It’s not what we hired you to do.” Despite this, Reynolds remained firm in his decision to stick with his unique style of performing, claiming that he was just doing his own thing. This resistance to conformity reportedly caused friction between Reynolds and the people behind the film.

Lawrence emphasized that, despite the difficult situation on set, he holds no hard feelings toward Reynolds. He acknowledged that the young actor was simply trying to do what he felt was right for the character, and that approach eventually became a part of his signature style. In hindsight, Lawrence reflected that Reynolds was just beginning to develop his iconic, offbeat comedic persona, which would later come to fruition in films like Deadpool. “He was trying to Deadpool it,” Lawrence said, referring to the way Reynolds was pushing boundaries on the set in a way that resembled the irreverence of his Deadpool character. Lawrence added that he wasn’t angry about Reynolds’ behavior because it was a natural part of the actor’s journey, and, looking back, it was clear that Reynolds was just being true to himself.

Interestingly, Lawrence also touched on the parallels between Reynolds’ early struggles and Blake Lively’s recent legal drama involving the It Ends With Us movie. According to Lawrence, there were similarities in how both Reynolds and Lively faced creative differences with directors and producers. This pattern of standing firm on their artistic choices seems to be a characteristic that both actors share, even though it sometimes caused tension during their early careers.

Although Reynolds was difficult to work with during the Boltneck shoot, Lawrence does not harbor any resentment toward him. Instead, he recognizes that Reynolds was simply staying true to his authentic self, even if it made him a challenging collaborator at the time. As Lawrence explained, “He obviously matured as a human being,” which speaks to Reynolds’ growth as both an actor and person over the years. Now, looking back at their shared experiences, Lawrence appreciates Reynolds’ ability to push boundaries and stay true to his instincts.

In the end, despite the rocky start, Lawrence acknowledges the positive traits of Reynolds that have defined his career. The actor’s evolution from a difficult, creative young star to a beloved Hollywood figure is something Lawrence seems to respect, proving that Ryan Reynolds’ unique approach to his craft has always been a part of his charm.