Deadpool and Free Guy star Ryan Reynolds has announced he'll be launching a new diversity initiative with one of his next films. Earlier this year, it was reported that Ryan Reynolds has signed on to star in an untitled time-travel thriller directed by Shawn Levy. The project was originally penned by T. S. Nowlin as a spec script under the titled Our Name is Adam with Tom Cruise briefly attached to star. Now, the story is being written by Jonathan Trooper and will follow Reynolds' character as he travels to the past to get help from his 13-year-old self and crosses paths with his deceased father.
Last week, Reynolds announced the launch of The Group Effort Initiative and The Hollywood Reporter noted that the program is aiming for the aforementioned time-travel film to be its first project. The self-financed program, run through Reynolds' Maximum Effort production company, intends to create more opportunities for people of color by providing paid work experience on the actor's projects. "I've had a front-row seat to the immense talent of so many artisans, storytellers, and experts. Being a member of a film crew is a special experience — but that privilege hasn't been extended to everyone. There's a ton of untapped talent out there. This action is the right thing to do, but it's worth noting that inclusivity will also make our industry stronger and more dynamic. We will tell better stories," Reynolds said in a statement.
The program plans to bring in 10 to 20 trainees of all ages who are Black, indigenous, other people of color, or from other marginalized communities. "These new recruits will be paid and housed out of my salary and will spend their days on set learning from professionals and getting real-life experience that they can then parlay into another job and another job and hopefully a career in the film industry," Reynolds explained in his announcement video. Full details on the program for those who are interested in applying can be found on The Group Effort Initiative website.
Levy added, "A film crew is a family. The more diverse and representative it is, the better the outcome." Production on the time-travel thriller is scheduled to begin production this fall in Vancouver, Canada, depending on the state of the coronavirus pandemic.
Reynolds' efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in Hollywood may not come as a surprise to those who have been following his philanthropic ventures. In addition to helping someone find a stolen teddy bear this summer, Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, made a $200,000 donation to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense Fund following the murder of George Floyd.
Reynolds currently serves as producer for the game show Don't, and fans will next see Reynolds in the video game film titled Free Guy, due to be released in theaters this holiday season.
Free Guy will be released in theaters on December 11, 2020.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter