The Ryan Reynolds Effect: Bridging the Gap Between Hollywood and K-Pop

Making friends (and fans) wherever he goes

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have been touring South Korea for their movie’s promotion, and have been seen on multiple Korean variety and talk shows, which is expected when you promote in Korea. What wasn’t expected was them suddenly appearing in a Kpop MV.

Three days ago, Stray Kids, an internationally popular Korean band, released their song “Chk Chk Boom.” The song is a lead in their new album Ate. The MV of the song, to every Stray Kids fans (Stays) shock, starts with Hugh Jackman in front of a weather panel, in his X-Uniform, looking confused, and Ryan in the background talking about toilet paper, as ya do.

And then, he starts reporting on what looks like the “end of the world” apocalypse termed as a “mysterious phenomena”. Which prompts Stray Kids to announce to the world that they are ready to take on the world (ergo music charts), or at least that’s how we’re interpreting it.

At different points in the music video, while the group is dancing and singing, Ryan appears in the background on the jumbotrons. At the end of the MV, the cameras return to the TV studio, where Reynolds is now reporting in his Deadpool costume. 

“Any chance that you’re looking for an older, less agile member?” he asks, and the group responds in the negative.

What’s one of the most Deadpool things Ryan could’ve done?

This corporate synergy in the Marvel world was further promoted when Reynolds and Jackman made an appearance at Marvel Korea for an interview conducted by, yes, you guessed it, Stray Kids, or two members of the group, i.e., Felix and Bang Chan.

The interview was just Felix and Bang Chan continuously throwing compliments at the Marvel stars, and the Marvel stars doing the same. And in the midst of which, Ryan’s obsession with KPop came into light.

And then Ryan Reynolds fans and Stays all over the world received their second shock of the week. During the interview, Ryan, in original Deadpool fashion, revealed that Marvel didn’t have a clue that he and Hugh starred in the MV for “Chk Chk Boom.” 

And our reaction to that piece of information was nothing less than Bang Chan’s reaction, who gasped the loudest gasp there ever is to gasp on television. While Felix lived his fanboy moment with his surprised “Really?”

Ryan Reynolds and his love for Stray Kids

Reynolds’ love for Stray Kids hasn’t gone unnoticed over the years by his fans and first came into light in 2021, when the Deadpool actor praised Felix on Twitter for wearing the Deadpool suit for a performance. 

“Oh hello @stray kids.” he tweeted. This led to a particularly funny interaction between him and Stray Kids leader, Bang Chan, who suddenly became Ryan’s “favorite Australian,” Ryan said as a slight to Hugh, who is also an Aussie.

Bang Chan later interviewed Ryan when he was promoting his film, Free Guy. During which he made his love for Stray Kids clear with the words:

“I’m such a huge fan,” he said. “Not only do I love what you guys do, but I love how you do it because you do it with joy and you do it with authenticity… I’m super proud that I get to kind of know you now.”

And now, he finally made a collaboration with Stray Kids possible, mostly without the knowledge of Marvel, but still. And it was for the promotion of their film, so what can Marvel even say?

Hollywood Meets K-Pop Again

This collaboration between Hollywood and Kpop doesn’t end here though. Because it looks like Stray Kids’ new song, “Slash” is part of the soundtrack of Deadpool and Wolverine, which is set to release in theaters 26 July, 2024.

In other news, their song, Chk Chk Boom is now topping the Billboards 200 charts and it’s MV seems to have hit the 30 million mark in only 3 days.