In the 2016 film Deadpool, which actor plays the title character?

Ryan Reynolds plays the title character in the 2016 film Deadpool.

Reynolds portrays Wade Wilson, a former special-forces operative who becomes the masked mercenary Deadpool after an experimental treatment activates his accelerated healing but leaves him severely scarred. The character’s rapid jokes, self-awareness, and tendency to break the fourth wall distinguish the film from more traditional superhero movies.

Reynolds had previously played a different version of Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The 2016 film reintroduced the character with a new tone and a storyline that emphasizes his relationship with Vanessa and his pursuit of the people responsible for his transformation.

Deadpool was directed by Tim Miller and became a major commercial success despite its R rating in the United States. Reynolds also returned for Deadpool 2 and later appeared as the character in Deadpool & Wolverine, connecting the character more directly with the broader Marvel film universe.