At a recent screening in Brooklyn for the documentary John Candy: I Like Me, Ryan Reynolds, who produced the movie, shared a story about trying to get Bill Murray to sign on to the project, but omitted the name of his wife, Blake Lively. This story comes several weeks after a separate event in New Jersey, where Reynolds told the same story. However, he also revealed that he had insulted his wife. Colin Hanks directed the documentary, based on the eponymous comedian’s life.
Ryan Reynolds doesn’t take Blake Lively’s name during an event
The Free Guy star appeared at a public screening for John Candy: I Like Me at Brooklyn’s Kings Theater on October 5, 2025. At the event, he participated in a discussion, telling a story about getting Bill Murray to join the documentary.
“‘I got a number. I called. Voicemail came on,” Ryan Reynolds shared (via The Daily Mail). “It was a Greek shipping company, naturally. And I left a message, and then I did that about 20 more times, and eventually he called me back.”
The Deadpool & Wolverine actor added that Murray “ghosted the s*** out” of him. He said that in his desperation, he filmed and sent a “desperate hostage video” of himself and his children.
“It’s like 11:30 at night. My kids showed up,” the Canadian-American actor added. “They woke up and my daughter’s behind me and I’m in the middle of it. I’m like, ‘Don’t you do it.’ I’m leaving a message for Bill. She’ll just choke you out; she’s five.” Reynolds said that then his two-year-old son showed up, after which he said, “Tell Bill to do the d*** interview.”
The 48-year-old’s children were instrumental in getting Murray to sign on to the John Candy documentary after Reynolds pleaded with the Ghostbusters icon. The Aviation Gin founder then said that Murray texted him, asking how he could help.
Ryan Reynolds’ story is the same one he narrated during the screening of the movie at the New Jersey theater, but with the name of Blake Lively deliberately excluded. In that event, which took place on September 25, he said he had left “40 messages” for Murray, asking the latter to join the documentary.
“Funny, I’m on my way to some gala thing and I rarely go to a fancy tuxedo [event],” Reynolds continued (via The Daily Mail). “I’m there with my wife and we’re about to walk in and my phone buzzes, and I look at it. It says Bill Murray and I go, ‘Bill Murray!'”
He added that Lively whispered to him that they had to go in, only for him to respond, “F*** you!”
