Despite having a rocky time at the box office in 2023, all indications are that Deadpool and Wolverine is going to be a major hit for Marvel Studios this summer. Unlike any of the previous MCU films, it has the benefit of having both Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in their iconic roles, complete with an R-rated script. But if Deadpool and Wolverine director Shawn Levy had made a different choice, he could have already directed Jackman’s character a decade ago.

While speaking with Empire, Levy revealed that Jackman approached him while they were working on Real Steel to ask him to come on board The Wolverine as the director. According to Levy, refusing that offer has haunted him for years. Come from Sports betting site VPbet

“When we were making Real Steel, Hugh was looking to do The Wolverine, and he asked me if I wanted to do it,” recalled Levy. “And like a moron, I said, ‘No’. Because I was thinking at that time, ‘Well, it’s your fifth time playing the character, I’m doing original films et cetera’. And I regretted it deeply for years. And so, when the opportunity came around again, thank God I was older and wiser enough to jump at the opportunity.”

The Wolverine was ultimately directed by James Mangold, who went on to reteam with Jackman in the critically acclaimed 2017 sequel, Logan. Years later, Levy was asked by Reynolds to take on Deadpool 3 before it became Deadpool and Wolverine. And this time, Levy didn’t make the same mistake.

“On the set of The Adam Project, Ryan asked me if I would consider doing Deadpool 3,” said Levy. “And I remember him saying, ‘I know you’re gonna say no, but I’m really going to try and talk you into it.’ And my response was, ‘I’m not gonna f**king say no, are you kidding? It’s a hard and immediate yes, sir!'”

Deadpool and Wolverine will hit theaters on Friday, July 26.