Ryan Reynolds is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars today, but according to actor Matthew Lawrence, the Deadpool star had a rocky start early in his career. 

Lawrence recently shared details about working with Reynolds on the 2000 film Boltneck, claiming the young actor was allegedly difficult on set.

During an episode of his Brotherly Love Podcast, Lawrence reflected on his experience filming the project alongside Reynolds. 

He described how the production team struggled with Reynolds’ performance and behavior, saying,

 “The production team was having a really hard time with Ryan… this was young Ryan.”

Reynolds Allegedly Clashed with Producers Over His Performance

Lawrence, who had already built a solid acting career from childhood, noted that Reynolds was still finding his footing in the industry at the time. He claimed that the production team was unhappy with Reynolds’ approach to his character and even criticized him for what they perceived as an attempt to imitate comedy legend Jim Carrey.

“He’d walk out—just kind of wanted to do his thing, and the producers would get really upset because they said, they even told him, ‘Ryan, this is a bad Jim Carrey impersonation. This is not what we hired you to do. You can’t impersonate somebody. You gotta do your own thing,’” Lawrence recalled.

According to Lawrence, Reynolds didn’t take the feedback well and stood by his performance, telling the team, “I’m doing my thing.”

‘Boltneck’ Was Meant to Be Darker, but Reynolds Added Comedy

In Boltneck, Lawrence played a nerdy high schooler named Frank Stein, who brings a classmate (played by Reynolds) back to life after he is bullied and accidentally killed.

Lawrence explained that the producers had envisioned a darker tone for the film, similar to Donnie Darko. However, Reynolds tried to infuse humor into his performance—something that foreshadowed the comedic style he would later be known for.

“I’m not even mad at Ryan. He stayed true to who he is authentically, because honestly, he was trying [to] ‘Deadpool’ it. That’s what he was trying to do to the script on set,” Lawrence said.

He also shared that he was present for a private discussion between Reynolds and the film’s director regarding his performance. The director and producers, Paul Colichman and Mark R. Harris, had just worked on Gods and Monsters, which won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Producers Allegedly Blamed Reynolds for the Film’s Struggles

According to Lawrence, the tension between Reynolds and the production team grew, and they ultimately placed some of the blame for the film’s lack of success on him.

“They blamed that movie not working on him because they said there was this whole conflict,” Lawrence claimed.

He added that some crew members even dismissed Reynolds’ potential, assuming he wouldn’t have much of a career in Hollywood.

“We had so much hope for this guy. He’s going nowhere,” Lawrence recalled, laughing at the irony given Reynolds’ massive success today.

Acknowledging Reynolds’ Growth

Despite the reported difficulties on set, Lawrence acknowledged that Reynolds eventually matured, both personally and professionally.

“That was my experience [working with him],” he concluded, before noting, “He obviously matured as a human being.”

The podcast episode where Lawrence made these remarks also touched on recent drama surrounding Reynolds’ wife, Blake Lively, and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.

Fox News Digital reached out to Lawrence, Reynolds, and the film’s producers for comment, but no statements have been issued at this time.

Reynolds’ Career Proves the Naysayers Wrong

While Boltneck may not have been a highlight of Reynolds’ career, he went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest and most bankable stars. He eventually found his signature comedic voice, leading to roles in Van Wilder, The Proposal, and his breakout success in Deadpool.

Though the Boltneck producers may have had their doubts at the time, Reynolds’ talent and dedication ultimately proved them wrong, turning him into a Hollywood powerhouse.

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