Deadpool wants everyone to touch themselves tonight
Pansexual superhero Deadpool has come forward to urge everyone to touch themselves tonight.
Ryan Reynolds is set to play the popular Marvel anti-hero in the film of the same name, set for release next month.
As part of the film’s viral marketing campaign, Reynolds has recorded a number of PSAs as the famously vulgar character – urging everyone to touch themselves tonight.
But the two videos – one for people with breasts, and one for people with testicles – aren’t just for fun: they actually double as quite useful guides on how to check for breast cancer and testicular cancer.
Deadpool explains in the first video: “How well do you know your happy sack? I’m sure you rummage around downstairs more than mummy would like, but it’s time you start paying attention to your favourite pastime, because that bag o’beans in your hand could be trying to kill you.
“Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men aged 15 to 35, and it’s time to fight back!”
The ‘Merc with a mouth proceeds to give a detailed on-the-nose guide to checking for testicular cancer – while in the second video, he provides a separate guide for detecting breast cancer.
He explains: “Did you know one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life? It looks like you’ve got some fumbling to do yourself.”
It was recently reported that Deadpool will be the first Marvel film to be denied release in China, after extensive cuts were unable to appease the country’s censors.
Deadpool is the first non-heterosexual superhero to get his own standalone film, with the comic book version said to “do anything with a pulse”.
The approach to the character will stay the same in the new film – with director Tim Miller insisting on portraying a “hypersexualised” version of Deadpool.
He said of the character’s sexuality in the film previously: “Pansexual! I want that quoted. Pansexual Deadpool.”
Ryan Reynolds said during filming: “There is some sexuality in this movie for sure. You kinda think you have moments when you’re shooting where you think, ‘This is, uh, a little excessive. This is a comic book movie. Are we gonna get away with this?’
“But so far so good. Studio hasn’t crushed us with anything. They were here yesterday, they were thrilled, they saw some cut footage and so far so good.”
The upcoming movie is being produced by 20th Century Fox, but will share a Universe with the X-Men films.
Marvel’s Cinematic Universe – which features Iron Man, Thor and Captain America – has recently featured its first gay characters – in TV series Jessica Jones and Agents of SHIELD.
Arrow star John Barrowman previously called for more gay superheroes on TV.
Watch a trailer below:
