Green Deadpool Why Fans Keep Asking About the Color Change

For nearly a decade, Ryan Reynolds has consistently turned down requests for a green version of Deadpool’s suit. Fans continue to wonder if the Merc with a Mouth might ever don a green outfit, despite the character’s own lore addressing this question multiple times.

This ongoing joke actually dates back to before the first ‘Deadpool’ film was released, stemming from Reynolds’s tumultuous history with another superhero. Prior to becoming Wade Wilson, Reynolds starred in the 2011 film ‘Green Lantern,’ which has cast a long shadow over every Deadpool project since.

The humor first took root in the marketing for the original ‘Deadpool.’ In one trailer, Reynolds delivers the iconic line, “Please don’t make the super-suit green… or animated,” poking fun at both ‘Green Lantern’ and any attempts at animated adaptations.

This single quip set the tone for how the franchise would address its star’s past. ‘Deadpool 2’ took things a step further with a mid-credits scene where Deadpool travels back in time to the moment Reynolds agreed to star in ‘Green Lantern’ and shoots him before he can accept the role. Screenwriter Rhett Reese revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that Reynolds advocated for this moment, wishing to “go change some personal events from my life,” specifically alluding to Wolverine and Green Lantern.

Director David Leitch confirmed just how personal this joke was for Reynolds, and the film’s marketing team embraced it as well. After the release of ‘Deadpool 2,’ Warner Bros. Home Entertainment humorously teased Reynolds on social media, sharing a still from ‘Green Lantern’ and jokingly asking for the power ring back.

In the Marvel comics, the concept has been explored in a more literal sense. A character named “Greenpool” exists as one of many clones of Deadpool, created by an alternate-universe version of Zeus using Deadpool’s DNA, seemingly just for entertainment as the clones battle each other.

Greenpool has made just one appearance in the comics, and what happened to the character after that remains a mystery. It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it joke hidden within Marvel’s vast multiverse, but it shows that the idea of a “green Deadpool” has genuine, albeit obscure, roots in the source material.

While the character has never worn green on screen, retailers have embraced the idea. Marvel merchandise includes a “Kelly Green” ‘Deadpool’ Christmas graphic tee and a military-green version of a ‘Deadpool’ X-Force “Trainee Maximum Effort” shirt, available on major retail sites.

These products don’t directly reflect the films or comics, but they illustrate how adaptable the character’s branding has become. Deadpool’s red-and-black suit is iconic, yet apparel lines frequently explore alternate color options for fans seeking something unique.

When ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ premiered in 2024, the ‘Green Lantern’ baggage had become as integral to the character’s real-world mythology as his healing factor. The film’s promotional material even revolved around the notion of Reynolds finally moving on from the role that sparked the ongoing joke.

Director David Leitch, who also served as an action coordinator on ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine,’ has noted that the Deadpool franchise’s ability to poke fun at its creators’ careers is part of its charm. Fans have come to expect these self-aware jabs as a fundamental aspect of the experience.

Although an official green Deadpool suit has yet to appear in live-action, the color has subtly followed the character through trailers, mid-credits scenes, obscure comic clones, and novelty T-shirts. It’s an unusual, widespread running joke, but Reynolds and the franchise seem to enjoy keeping it alive.

Would you like to see Deadpool actually wear a green suit on screen, even as a one-off gag, or should the color remain strictly off-limits? Share your thoughts in the comments.