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Ryan Reynolds on lessons he learned while working on 'Green Lantern'

Ryan Reynolds on lessons he learned while working on 'Green Lantern'

Khaleej Times24-04-2025

Actor Ryan Reynolds recently spoke about playing superheroes, recalling the lessons he learned playing the Green Lantern.
In the 2011 film Green Lantern, directed by Martin Campbell, he stars as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, a test pilot who is selected to become the first human member of the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force. He said that it was a learning experience for him.
"I learned all the most amazing lessons I could ever have in the creative space from that movie," he said, adding, "On that film I saw a lot of money being spent on special effects, all sorts of stuff. And I remember suggesting, 'Why we don't we write like a scene the way people would talk? I don't know, it could be a fun exchange of dialogue that all doesn't cost anything?'"
He said he takes the "lesson" of "character over spectacle" particularly to heart.
He was sharing his experience during the 2025 Time 100 Summit. He discussed his film and TV studio, Maximum Effort, and how his journey working as an actor led to his career as an entrepreneur.
He said: "The greatest superpower I ever had in my life, I'm not saying about just my career or anything, was knowing who I am."
Maximum Effort has worked on films like Deadpool, Free Guy, IF, Shotgun Wedding, and more.
Deadpool & Wolverine, which hit theatres in July 2024, is now the top-grossing R-rated film of all time. You can see it on Disney+ in the UAE.
Reynolds also discussed the possibility of Deadpool appearing in an upcoming Avengers film, specifically whether the audience could see his famed superhero make an appearance as a supporting character.
Reynolds said, "I do", before pivoting to his experience making the Deadpool films after the character was poorly received in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The whole movie was an allegory for Disney buying Fox. "I pitched 18 different movies to them," he said.
"I was really grateful to get to tell a story, to see people like the characters that we made with Wesley Snipes, who should have a third act in this moment. ... That feeling of gasp ... it's a feeling that I just want more of. And I think I would be able to do that as a supporting actor," he added.

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Hollywood hits the high seas as actors Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Join SailGP
Hollywood hits the high seas as actors Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Join SailGP

Khaleej Times

time2 days ago

  • Khaleej Times

Hollywood hits the high seas as actors Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Join SailGP

When Hollywood royalty meets high-speed hydrofoils, you know the waves are about to get a lot bigger, and more entertaining. In a splashy new chapter for Australian sport, actors Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have officially joined forces as co-owners of Australia's championship-winning SailGP team - now rebranded as the BONDS Flying Roos. The announcement comes as part of a landmark partnership with iconic Aussie underwear brand BONDS, which steps in as the team's first-ever Title Partner. The newly minted BONDS Flying Roos will make their official debut under their new banner this weekend at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on June 7 =8. With a championship title within reach and new co-owners watching from the docks, the pressure, and the excitement, have never been higher. Candian Reynolds, who starred in the Deadpool film series, commented, 'We're incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure. Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country as well as being an avid fan of sailing. Emotional Support 'He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia. No comment on whether we're writing this in our BONDS. No further questions.' Jackman famously played the superhero Wolverine for over 17 years in the X-Men film series. The pairing of Hollywood stardom with elite competitive sailing is as unexpected as it is inspiring For Jackman, it's a personal homecoming to his Australian roots and a lifelong passion for the ocean. For Reynolds, it's the latest chapter in his ever-expanding portfolio of offbeat and ambitious ventures. Together, they bring global star power to an elite sport built on adrenaline and cutting-edge technology. Foiling at Full Speed Founded in 2019 by Sir Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison, SailGP pits 12 national crews in identical 50-foot foiling catamarans, ripping past 100 km/h just metres from shore in the world's most iconic harbours. Led by Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby, Australia has owned the leaderboard winning three championships in four seasons, and embarks on a new chapter aimed at super-charging fan engagement far beyond the dock. Slingsby, who also serves as the team's Driver, CEO, and now fellow co-owner of the BONDS Flying Roos said,'This is an incredible milestone for us and our sport, having global icons Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds come on board as co-owners of our team. 'They bring unmatched star power, a love for storytelling, and a sharp sense of humour that fits perfectly with our team. With BONDS joining as our Title Partner and the launch of the BONDS Flying Roos, we're building something distinctly Australian; a team driven by spirit, resilience, and national pride.' With the introduction of the BONDS Flying Roos, Australia's team isn't just racing for trophies- it's aiming to redefine how fans connect with the sport of sailing. Andy Thompson, Managing Director of SailGP, welcomed the iconic actors aboard and said: 'This marks a landmark moment not just for the Australia SailGP Team, but for the trajectory of SailGP globally. 'We're thrilled to officially welcome Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds as co-owners of the newly-branded BONDS Flying Roos, bringing with them an extraordinary combination of global reach, vision, commercial nous and no doubt plenty of fun along the way too.' New Era, Title Partner The BONDS multi-year partnership marks the first time the Australian SailGP Team has had a Title Partner. 'BONDS is famous for its signature Aussie spirit and it's no secret that Aussies love sport, being on the water, and just a hint of danger. Enter SailGP, the next exciting chapter in our journey to take BONDS to the world,' said Tanya Deans, President of BONDS Australia. 'We're thrilled to join forces with such an iconic duo and an adrenaline-fueled sport ready for its moment in the spotlight. And how do you say no to Hugh Jackman? He's Australian royalty! As we set sail on this new adventure, the BONDS Flying Roos have one less thing to worry about – we've got their backs (and bums) covered.'

Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds owns a football club, you can too
Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds owns a football club, you can too

Khaleej Times

time5 days ago

  • Khaleej Times

Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds owns a football club, you can too

Once the domain of oil tycoons and billionaires‭, ‬owning a football club is now in vogue thanks to the unlikely takeover of Wrexham FC by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney‭. ‬The pair bought the club for‭ ‬£2‭ ‬million‭ (‬Dh9.7‭ ‬million‭) ‬in 2021‭ ‬and have transformed it over a short period of time‭, ‬with some estimating it's now worth up to‭ ‬£150‭ ‬million‭ (‬Dh733million‭). ‬There are many clubs across the lower leagues of England and Europe available for as little as a few‭ ‬million pounds‭, ‬making football ownership less of a dream and more of a reality‭.‬ Les Reed is the founder of Reed Consulting and also a board advisor to Wrexham FC‭. ‬'There is a lot of misunderstanding around why people invest in football clubs‭, ‬and some don't ask themselves that question‭.‬'‭ ‬There are many reasons someone might buy a club‭ ‬–‭ ‬as an investment opportunity‭, ‬to raise a personal profile‭, ‬ego‭, ‬to diversify assets‭, ‬and as a form of fun and entertainment‭. ‬It‭ ‬could be a combination of all the above‭. ‬'But I have never met an investor‭ ‬who did not want return on investment‭ (‬ROI‭) ‬in some form and never one that was happy to lose‭ ‬money‭,‬'‭ ‬added Reed‭.‬ Charlie Methven‭, ‬a former co-owner and executive director of Sunderland FC‭, ‬said‭: ‬'Buyers tend to have made their fortune in other industries and tend to bring a somewhat unwarranted self-confidence to buying a‭ ‬football club despite having no background in football‭.‬'‭ ‬He advised buyers to partner with someone who has been through the whole journey before‭, ‬both to assess the market and to engage in proper due diligence that addresses the particularities of football‭.‬ England is prime hunting ground‭, ‬given it has more than 90‭ ‬professional clubs spread across four divisions‭. ‬Some are worth billions like the Premier League's Manchester United while others like Cheltenham Town in League Two are valued at just over‭ ‬£3‭ ‬million‭.‬ 'There are always clubs for sale‭. 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them until revenue grows‭?‬'‭ ‬asks Simon Leslie‭, ‬a media owner and chairman of Eastbourne Borough FC‭.‬ When it comes to looking at a football club's finances‭, ‬experts will analyse revenues‭ (‬matchday and non-matchday‭), ‬expenses‭ (‬specifically player wages‭) ‬to gauge profit and‭ ‬loss‭, ‬and cash flow‭. ‬For smaller clubs‭, ‬it's useful to drill down into its matchday income‭, ‬which includes ticket sales and food and beverage sales‭. ‬It should also include‭ ‬any commercial deals and media rights distributions‭. ‬Another important source of income is from player trading‭ ‬—‭ ‬revenues derived from selling players in the transfer market‭. ‬Les Reed said not to forget non-matchday income‭ ‬—‭ ‬from events‭, ‬concerts‭, ‬conferences‭, ‬and tours as the stadium is often underutilised and an area for growth‭.‬ ‭ ‬While revenue and expenses are essential parts of any business‭, ‬football experts warned not to treat a club as a normal business‭. ‬'Your revenues can be unpredictable 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try to appease a fan base through emotionally driven player acquisitions‭,‬'‭ ‬added Wilson‭. ‬'Another common error is overestimating how quickly success can be bought‭; ‬sustainable growth takes patience and proper infrastructure‭.‬' ‭ ‬ Making money It may be a shocking figure but only around 10‭ ‬per cent of football clubs are profitable‭. ‬But Gardner puts it into context‭. ‬'Many clubs aren't trying to be profitable‭, ‬either because that is not the goal of their owner‭, ‬or because they have other motivations‭.‬'‭ ‬Generally‭, ‬the clubs that manage their cost basis well‭ (‬keeping their player wage bills under control‭) ‬and the clubs that have‭ ‬a strong system of developing and selling players are the most profitable‭. ‬'Don't fall in love with the badge until you've opened the books‭. ‬People get swept up in the romance and forget that most clubs lose money every single month‭,‬'‭ ‬added Leslie‭. ‬'Football isn't just a business‭. ‬It's a tribe‭, ‬a community centre‭, ‬and sometimes a therapy session all rolled into one‭,‬'‭ ‬he joked‭.‬ Wrexham has proved to be a turnaround story worthy of a Hollywood movie‭, ‬but there have been plenty of others‭. ‬Brighton‭, ‬Brentford‭, ‬Plymouth Argyle‭, ‬Leyton Orient‭, ‬Stockport County‭, ‬and Luton Town are all considered clubs that were at rock bottom but have‭ ‬been rejuvenated without spending silly money‭. ‬Leeds United‭, ‬who are owned by 49ers Enterprises‭, ‬with minority investment from Red Bull‭, ‬and a host of celebrities‭, ‬including Michael Phelps‭, ‬Russell Crowe and Will Ferrell‭, ‬have just been promoted back into‭ ‬the Premier League‭.‬ Methven‭, ‬who is now the managing director of Mount Pleasant FA in Jamaica‭, ‬added‭: ‬'Obviously‭, ‬I would say what I did at Sunderland‭. ‬The club was‭ ‬£160‭ ‬million in debt and losing‭ ‬ £27‭ ‬million per annum‭. ‬Four years later‭, ‬the club was debt free‭, ‬break-even‭, ‬and had been promoted‭, ‬at which point we sold the club at a significant profit‭.‬' ‭ ‬ The Wrexham effect Wrexham has enjoyed huge success on and off the field since being bought by its wealthy Hollywood owners‭. ‬The club has enjoyed promotion in three successive seasons and its value has increased by more than 50‭ ‬times‭. ‬The documentary‭ ‬Welcome to Wrexham‭ ‬has won eight Emmy awards and given the club a global fanbase‭. ‬Many investors‭, ‬particularly from North America want to try and‭ ‬replicate its success‭. ‬'Unfortunately‭, ‬the model is extremely difficult if not impossible to replicate as‭ ‬Reynolds and his group have brand‭, ‬media‭ (‬via‭ ‬their documentary‭) ‬and global appeal that others simply don't have‭,‬'‭ ‬said Gardner‭.‬ Wrexham's story does highlight the power of community and fan engagement in the success of the football club‭. ‬Indeed‭, ‬community engagement builds loyalty‭, ‬boosts matchday revenue‭, ‬and increasingly attracts sponsors who want authentic connections‭. ‬Think of them as‭ ‬your unpaid marketing team‭, ‬your brand ambassadors‭, ‬and your frontline support‭.‬ ‭ ‬ Sponsorship Football clubs offer a range of sponsorship deals that include being the main shirt sponsor and billboards around the pitch‭. ‬This month‭, ‬Chelsea FC signed a short-term sponsorship deal with DAMAC to appear on the front of its shirts‭. ‬For smaller clubs‭, ‬the‭ ‬sponsors tend to be hyper local brands‭. ‬For example‭, ‬Wrexham was sponsored by local firm Ifor Williams Trailers before it was replaced by TikTok and then‭, ‬United Airlines‭.‬ But in this increasingly digital world‭, ‬clubs need to catch up‭. ‬'Brands no longer just want their logo on a shirt‭. ‬They want access‭, ‬content‭, ‬clicks‭, ‬and stories‭. ‬We've built a digital platform with over 365,000‭ ‬highly engaged followers not just in Eastbourne‭, ‬but worldwide‭. ‬Don't think in terms of 23‭ ‬home games‭. ‬Think in terms of a 365-day-a-year brand‭,‬'‭ ‬advised Leslie‭.‬ 'Clubs must adapt by enhancing their online presence‭, ‬engaging with local and global audiences‭, ‬and offering data-driven insights‭ ‬to attract new potential sponsors‭,‬'‭ ‬said Elliot Stroud‭, ‬chief executive of ‬which links football clubs with investors‭.‬

Restaurant Review: The dining experience at Krasota Dubai transcends the physical
Restaurant Review: The dining experience at Krasota Dubai transcends the physical

Khaleej Times

time20-05-2025

  • Khaleej Times

Restaurant Review: The dining experience at Krasota Dubai transcends the physical

Imagine a meal that transcends the physical‭, ‬transporting guests through the realms of human evolution‭. ‬Krasota hosts a series of‭ ‬different‭ ‬'shows'‭ ‬for lack of a better word‭; ‬I feel as though a show alludes to a passive experience‭, ‬whereas at Krasota‭, ‬each of the 20‭ ‬guests in attendance is an active participant‭. ‬Krasota defines itself as a visionary and innovative dining concept that embraces hedonism and elevates gastronomy to an art form‭, ‬and this experience was no exaggeration‭. ‬Each of the five senses was stimulated in a symphony of tastes‭, ‬physical textures‭, ‬aromas‭, ‬sounds‭, ‬and colours‭, ‬all of which united the mind with the palate‭.‬ The‭ ‬'show'‭ ‬we attended was titled‭ ‬IF‭,‬‭ ‬or‭ ‬Imaginary Future‭,‬‭ ‬and it began in space‭. ‬The circular‭ ‬room‭, ‬which seats 20‭ ‬keen diners‭, ‬is encircled by screens that took us straight to the Milky Way‭. ‬The visual art on the walls‭, ‬table‭, ‬and every inch that the eye could see displayed a futuristic exploration of humans in space and how visionaries will eventually explore the cosmos to escape Earth's limitations‭. ‬The futuristic dish that accompanied the galactic journey had two crisp‭ ‬'space bread'‭ ‬cuboids‭, ‬one of which was topped with caviar and the other with tuna‭, ‬accompanied by a sea urchin miso soup‭.‬ The second course was titled Chimera‭, ‬which showcased human life's ongoing quest to reverse the damage it has done here on earth and how we aim to reconnect with nature through science and synthetic biology‭. ‬The dish‭, ‬entangled amid the scenes of vibrant plants and sounds of birds and bugs‭, ‬was a plant-based‭ ‬'meat'‭ ‬taco‭, ‬with mushrooms and natural Coca-Cola‭. ‬Following this was Apocalypse‭ ‬—‭ ‬perhaps my favourite course‭. ‬This thought-provoking element of the evening‭, ‬following on from the previous courses‭, ‬showcased the consequences facing humanity for violating the earth‭. ‬Served alongside a completely vegan‭, ‬decadent eggplant miso were scenes‭ ‬depicting how‭, ‬through unconventional means‭, ‬humans can find a way back to each other through the most dire of disconnections‭. ‬The journey then took us underwater‭, ‬offering guests a delicious‭, ‬perfectly cooked scallop served with sea urchin and sea grapes‭, ‬accompanied by imagery of the vast ocean floor and telling a story of how universal seabeds can be a solution to the planet's population and resourcing issues‭.‬ The final three courses took an exciting turn‭, ‬with the vibe shifting from thought-provoking and moving to upbeat‭, ‬exciting‭, ‬and‭ ‬—‭ ‬if at all possible‭ ‬—‭ ‬even more engaging of the senses‭. ‬As we travelled into Cyberpunk‭, ‬the lively music‭, ‬neon imagery‭, ‬and tantalising foie gras burger all roused the senses in harmony‭. ‬The Artificial Intelligence course allowed guests to experience‭ ‬'the Matrix'‭, ‬capturing humanity's recent hyper-attention towards technology and thus‭, ‬our reliance on it‭. ‬During this part of the show‭, ‬we were served the‭ ‬'AI quail pie'‭. ‬This concept led nicely into the final course‭ ‬—‭ ‬Eternal Life‭. ‬This course is envisioned as a cathartic counterpoint to AI‭, ‬predicting humanity's sublime equilibrium between technology‭, ‬nature‭, ‬and personal essence‭. ‬With this concept‭, ‬we were given a texturally unique matcha ice cream‭, ‬served with mango and feijoa‭.‬ When heading into this experience‭, ‬the concept of‭ ‬'escapism dining'‭ ‬was something alien to me‭ ‬—‭ ‬dining out is meant to be something that enriches the existing tapestry of life‭. ‬Yet‭, ‬this felt like a wild dream‭, ‬worlds away‭ ‬from my day-to-day‭ ‬—‭ ‬in an amazing way‭. ‬I would strongly urge everyone to try it once‭.‬

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