Yes, that is Ryan Reynolds beneath that mask, believe it or not.
The actor posed on a bearskin rug to show off how he looks as masked Marvel character Deadpool in a post that quickly got positive responses from fans on social media.
The photo is a parody of Burt Reynolds’ famous nude image from a 1972 issue of Cosmopolitan and is very much in keeping with Deadpool’s wisecracking, tongue-in-cheek persona.
Deadpool’s costume, a favorite among comic book fans and convention cosplayers, includes a mask that covers the entire face, so we might not see the face of 2010’s sexiest man for much of the movie.
Reynolds played Deadpool in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” but he never wore the famous red and black attire. Instead, he wore an unremarkable black suit bearing none of the hallmarks of the costume worn in the comics.
As the vanity shot indicates, Reynolds will be fully suited when returns to the role in first the feature-length “Deadpool,” scheduled for release in 2016.
In response to skepticism online who was beneath the mask, screenwriter Rhett Reese confirmed via Twitter that Reynolds was indeed in the suit.
Speaking of the Marvel universe, actor Hugh Jackman, who plays Wolverine, also had a big news to share with fans over the weekend. After playing Wolverine for more than 15 years, it appear that Jackman is nearly ready to hang up the claws as his most famous character.
He posted a picture on Instagram of his claws captioned “Wolverine … One last time.”
He is set to appear in “X-Men: Apocalypse,” out May 27, 2016, and a third “Wolverine” film, which begins production early next year.