Denis Villeneuve Slams Deadpool & Wolverine’s Popcorn Bucket

The war of the popcorn buckets between Dune 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine continues as Denis Villeneuve throws hilarious shade at Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool & Wolverine‘s marketing team. The Dune 2 popcorn bucket became an internet sensation following the film’s release as fans and audiences misinterpreted the bucket’s design for an adult toy. Ryan Reynolds caught wind of the online commotion and promised that Deadpool & Wolverine‘s exclusive bucket would make Dune 2‘s look tame.

During a conversation with CTV’s Etalk, Dune director Denis Villeneuve was asked about his opinion on the Deadpool & Wolverine popcorn bucket, and he took the opportunity to throw some shade at the film’s marketing. While the bucket for Dune 2‘s unfortunate design was purely accidental, Villeneuve is taking it in stride and joked that Reynolds and the team behind Deadpool & Wolverine were “insanely jealous” of their popcorn bucket. Villeneuve said:

“They are tremendously jealous of our bucket. And they are doing their best to try to bring something horrific to the world. But the
Dune
bucket is unmatchable.”

After taking the proverbial gloves off, Villeneuve made sure to clarify that he’s just joking around, and holds no genuine anger towards Ryan Reynolds or the team behind Deadpool & Wolverine. Villeneuve continued:

“Oh no. I’m not saying I don’t like the bucket. I’m just saying- it was difficult to beat the
Dune
bucket. It was one of a kind.”

Popcorn Buckets Have Become the Cinematic Trend of 2024

2023 saw the unbelievable Barbenheimmer phenomenon sweep social media, resulting in both movies achieving ridiculous box office highs. For the remainder of the year, studios were desperate to recreate the trend, pairing the most random movies imaginable to try and shock audiences – a double bill of Saw X and PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (or Saw Patrol) anyone? However, the new year has forgotten that trend, and popcorn buckets have become the new go-to commodity for movies to try and go viral.

Related

Dune 2 Director Shares One Big Disappointment with Movie’s Box Office Success

Denis Villeneuve has shared his surprising disappointment at one aspect of Dune: Part Two’s position as the highest grossing movie of 2024.

Just like Barbenheimmer, the Dune 2 popcorn bucket trend came about organically. The bucket’s unfortunate likeness to an adult toy was pointed out by fans on social media, and the trend grew among the fan base before corporate entities got hold of it.

The bucket’s popularity swept the world, with shows like Saturday Night Live including it in a sketch. It is usually impossible for companies or individuals to forcibly recreate a trend, but Ryan Reynolds managed to make lightning strike twice with the Deadpool & Wolverine popcorn bucket. After months of teasing, Reynolds revealed the new bucket and it looks exactly how you think.

Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters in less than a month, and fans cannot wait to see Hugh Jackman reprise the role of Wolverine, and take their own mini Wolverine home with them. The long-awaited third Deadpool movie brings both characters to the MCU for the first time, as they face Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), an Omega-level mutant.