Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool Deserved Oscars Nomination According To Jake Gyllenhaal

Over the past few weeks, award season has been buzzing for some of Hollywood’s biggest projects. Films like La La Land have been inundated with praise, and award bodies like the Golden Globes and People’s Choice have been quick to salute these honorable features. In a surprise twist, Deadpool found itself nominated with a slew of serious, more gritty projects that normally ring in as Oscar contenders. So, naturally, many wondered whether the merc would get a nod from the Academy Awards.

UP NEXT: Deadpool: Ryan Reynolds Comments On Oscar Nominations

Sadly, Ryan Reynold’s standout role did not get acknowledged by any higher powers at be – but it is getting some support. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jack Gyllenhaal stood up for his fellow actor and said that Reynolds deserved a nomination for his work.

When asked about his personal thoughts on this year’s snubs at the Oscars, Gyllenhaal was quick to answer. “Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool,” he said.

“We talk about brilliant performances all the time, you know, the actors who tear themselves apart for their roles, which I’m a believer in. But then I look at Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool and I say, ‘No one can do that but him.’ That is truly, purely him. As an artist he struggled for several years to figure that out and it’s all there on the screen. And it’s brilliant.”

Gyllenhaal continued, saying, “Sure it’s a comic book movie and it’s made a lot of money — but that doesn’t subtract from Ryan’s extraordinary work. Because it’s him. I mean, let’s ask ourselves: What else do we want from people who create? Something that is truly them.”

Of course, Reynolds and the whole team behind Deadpool has had time to get over the snub. Shortly after the Academy Awards released its nomination list, Reynolds took to Twitter to poke at his film’s notable absence. “Regularly scheduled tickle-fight at Camp #Deadpool is still on. Congrats to all the nominees for these brilliant films. #Oscars2017,” he wrote.

Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Deadpool is directed by Tim Miller and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Deadpool stars Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Leslie Uggams, Brianna Hildebrand and Stefan Kapičić.

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Deadpool‘s Holiday Blu-ray package is now available and retails for $25.99. Deadpool 2 is expected to begin filming next year and is due out January 12, 2018.