Ryan Reynolds Says Salma Hayek Slapped Him Harder Than Samuel L. Jackson

Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds has played the likes of Deadpool and the Green Lantern but those action-packed roles certainly take their toll, with the actor revealing that he was left injured by his The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard co-star Salma Hayek.

The pair star alongside Samuel L. Jackson in the upcoming action-comedy sequel, which follows 2017's The Hitman's Bodyguard and expands the role of Hayek's Sonia Kincaid.

Sonia featured briefly in the first movie, speaking to her hitman husband Darius Kincaid (Jackson) from prison while he and bodyguard Michael Bryce (Reynolds) foiled a plot to kill him.

Related: Salma Hayek praises Gucci co-star Lady Gaga

In case the title didn't give it away, Sonia will take a starring role in the sequel, with the movie's director Patrick Hughes telling Variety that audience feedback had told him that "they wanted to see and know more about Sonia".

However, Sonia's bigger role came at the expense of Reynolds' face, the actor has joked.

Video: Salma Hayek's incredible career

"In Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, I'm slapped in the face twice by Salma and once by Samuel L Jackson," he said. "For the record, it was Salma who didn't pull the punches. Not even once. I can still feel the sharp sting of her tiny hand working its way into my soft Hollywood cheekbones. May God have mercy on her soul."

But it seems that the actor has forgiven the star, as he also praised her commitment to developing her character and the script.

Related: Deadpool 3 idea shut down by Ryan Reynolds' friend

"Salma is a writer," he said. "She comes to set with a writer's mind and outlook. She's constantly improving, rewriting and reminding us all what the scene is actually about. She comes to play and build."

Hayek, who is also starring in Marvel movie Eternals this year, also spoke about her delight after Hughes told her that he wanted to focus on Sonia in the sequel, saying that she was "shocked" to discover the news.

"I've been in many movies where we get the call: 'Oh, my God, you're one of the most liked characters in the film.' So many times. But for the first time, there was a director that said, 'I'm gonna listen to the audience.'

"But I didn't trust him. At the beginning, I said, 'Oh, he's just exaggerating. He's just being nice.' But then when we started talking about it, he told me the storyline, and then I realized, 'Oh, my God, this guy is not only for real, but he also wants me involved in the process'."

You Might Also Like

• This Workout Torches Fat in Under 10 Minutes

• How to Cool Down After Your Hardest Workouts

• What’s the Deal With Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss?