Hugh Jackman has shown he has a sense of humour about his recent split from Deborra-Lee Furness, his wife of three decades.
The 55-year-old Hollywood fan favourite has reportedly approved a cheeky joke about his split for his latest blockbuster film, Deadpool & Wolverine.
At one point in the film, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool says of Hugh’s character, Wolverine: “He normally doesn’t wear a shirt, but he’s let himself go after the divorce.”
According to a film industry newspaper VarietyThe mischievous sleigh elicited gasps from the audience at the New York premiere.
But in an interview with the film’s director, Shawn Levy, the filmmaker assured fans that the prank had the approval of Hugh and his co-star and friend Ryan Reynolds.
“We never made a joke about or with anyone without first consulting with that person,” Levy explained.
She also revealed that Ryan’s line about the divorce was improvised.
“Ryan and I would always go over the lines with the artists and make sure everyone was comfortable and that we were never short of something,” he added.
Hugh Jackman has shown he has a sense of humour about his recent split from Deborra-Lee Furness. The 55-year-old Hollywood fan favourite approved a cheeky joke about their split for Deadpool and Wolverine. Pictured: Hugh and Deborra-Lee Furness in 2023
Deadpool & Wolverine also includes another joke about the divorce of former couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, who plays Elektra in the film.
“It was all done in a playful spirit that made everyone feel good. Those lines wouldn’t be in the movie if Hugh and Jen didn’t find them funny,” Levy added.
Last year, Hugh announced that he had separated from his long-time wife, Deborra-Lee, after 27 years of marriage.
The former couple revealed to their fans that they had separated “to pursue our individual growth.”
“We have been blessed to share nearly three decades together in a wonderful and loving marriage. Our path is now changing and we have decided to separate in order to continue growing as individuals,” the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
At one point in the film, Ryan Reynolds, as Deadpool, tells Hugh’s character Wolverine, “He doesn’t normally wear a shirt, but he’s let himself go after the divorce.” An interview with the film’s director, Shawn Levy, in Variety has assured fans that the joke had Hugh’s approval.
‘Our family has been and always will be our top priority. We face this new chapter with gratitude, love and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding and respect for our privacy as our family navigates this transition.’
The former couple signed the statement as ‘Deb and Hugh Jackman’ and added: ‘This is the only statement either of us will ever make.’
The couple had married in 1996 after crossing paths on the set of Correlli in 1995.
During the course of their marriage, they adopted two children: son Oscar, 23, and daughter Ava, 18.