Logovideo to article
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is that a glock in your pocket no ryan

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reynolds jumps into the world of video

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games in free guy as the lovable

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sentient npc guy who lives inside the

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video game free city from its flashy cgi

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creative decisions and exciting cameos

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there's lots to enjoy so it's time to

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whip out those gamer glasses and look at

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some of the behind the scenes secrets

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around free guy i'm gonna be the great

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guy

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okay

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one of the most interesting aspects

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about free guy is the fact that it's set

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in two different worlds the virtual free

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city and of course the real world for

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inspiration on the creation of free city

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director sean levy looked to the popular

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video game franchise grand theft auto

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wanting to portray the game as a more

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dangerous place where experiencing 8 to

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16 robberies daily is normal for a bank

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teller and threatening scenarios lurk in

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every corner meanwhile levy and dp

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george richmond wanted to make the look

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between the two worlds noticeable

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writing script bibles for how each

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setting would be filmed the biggest game

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influences were gta and fortnite you may

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be surprised to learn that the scene

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where free guy first puts on the gamer

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glasses and sees his city for what it

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really is used a lot of practical

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effects

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everything aside from the apache

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helicopter crashing into the building

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was actually done practically including

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the zipline levy revealed that it took

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11 takes until they felt they had it

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right that was really happening and

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these actors and rel had to play it

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completely straight

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free guy surely isn't without plenty of

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cgi but sean levy wanted to make sure

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that the production could also use

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practical effects whenever necessary one

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of the recurring gags in the film

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following a man literally on fire

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running into the streets was actually

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done practically this did lead to some

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stressful moments with levy revealing

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that guy has to be lit on fire to the

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second put out within a certain number

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of seconds or it gets very dangerous

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despite the pressure levy felt it was

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all worth it in the end no ryan reynolds

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did not get shredded to take on the role

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of blue shirt guy's shredded double

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ganger dude in fact dude's stand-in on

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set was professional bodybuilder aaron w

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reed reed has been used to working as an

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extra on television but free guy marks

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his first role in a major motion picture

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reynolds face was later superimposed on

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to read to create the disturbing

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look-alike yo my free city bros antoine

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here free guy's main antagonist is

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played by oscar winner taika ytt who

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also co-starred with reynolds in green

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lantern but both actors would like you

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to forget about that you did green

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lantern it was definitely green line

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right

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the cast and crew were abuzz about ytt

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and claimed that even when he wasn't on

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set his presence was always felt jody

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comer claimed that you could leave the

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camera rolling for 15 minutes and that

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guy would not stop levy who worked with

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comedy legends from the likes of the

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late robin williams as well as ricky

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gervais has said that ytt is in the

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ranks of both who's the best martial

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artist in the whole wide world

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steven sequoia

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no ryan reynolds movie is complete

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without lots of pop culture references

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and free guys gaming theme led to many

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opportunities for the creative team if

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you're worried that all the little

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references will overtake the story

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reynolds assured fans saying i don't

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think easter eggs are a storytelling

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pillar but i do think that easter eggs

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are something that audiences love and i

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love and appreciate so the movie will be

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riddled with easter eggs since free guy

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is a 20th century studios film which is

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in turn owned by disney it gave the

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filmmakers the opportunity to throw in

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some marvel and star wars related easter

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eggs including appearances of characters

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like the hulk as well as the use of

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lightsabers several surprises in free

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guide

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unlike the other video game themed movie

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ready player one which used cgi to show

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the characters avatars free guy has

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actual actors in the roles of free

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cities inhabitants instead of pulling

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from grand theft auto sean levy was

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inspired by fortnite for the character

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designs including utkarsh and budkar's

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mousers in-game bunny suit levy

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suggested that this decision will also

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add to the overall comedy of the film

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excuse me it reminded me that sometimes

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the best comedy comes out of something

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that doesn't make sense

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jody comer was already used to playing

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in more physical roles having played the

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cold psychotic yet sexy villanelle in

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killing eve but the one aspect of her

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character she wasn't prepared for was

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gaming comer found herself playing

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several different video games like grand

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theft auto which she found a tad too

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stressful comer did find comfort in

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playing marvel's spider-man claiming

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that it felt more carefree the idea of

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playing the two characters was something

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i found really attractive

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ryan reynolds wasn't the only one who

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was tasked with playing two different

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characters jody comer had an even bigger

04:52 - 04:56

challenge playing two very different

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versions of the same character millie

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and her digital persona molotov girl to

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differentiate between the two versions

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of the same character comer used

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differing accents as well as having to

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apply a wig when playing the femme

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fatale molotov girl

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one thing comer never had to do was play

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both the roles on the same day i think

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they were pretty um strategic free guy

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was originally set to hit theaters in

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july of 2020 but like many other movies

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was forced to be delayed because of the

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pandemic the lengthy delay turned out to

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be a blessing in disguise for levy and

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crew while initially the creative team

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set a limit to the amount of easter eggs

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that were in the film levy along with

05:32 - 05:36

production designer ethan taubman made

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the decision to add more to the movies

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so free city could feel more populated

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one of the easter eggs that was added in

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post was the tank from the popular video

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game franchise halo that can be seen

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patrolling the streets

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fans of reynolds are used to seeing the

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a-list star tackle roles that much like

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deadpool are full of snark and are

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mean-spirited free guy was a gear change

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for reynolds so this is slightly new for

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me there's something really wonderful

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about playing a character who's kind of

06:04 - 06:08

naive and innocent there are several

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surprise

06:08 - 06:13

cameos free guy features plenty of

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cameos from all different kinds of movie

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stars and even influencers levy

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recruited multiple popular online

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streamers to appear in the film from the

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likes of ninja pokemon and even

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jacksepticeye many of them were really

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appreciative of the experience and would

06:24 - 06:29

even do it again if they had the chance

06:27 - 06:31

pokemon especially loved being able to

06:29 - 06:33

have a second take at her scenes when

06:31 - 06:35

you're streaming you gotta say it right

06:33 - 06:37

the first time they might be clipped out

06:35 - 06:39

of context you might be in some trouble

06:37 - 06:41

the beloved late host of jeopardy alex

06:39 - 06:43

trebek is one of the many cameos in free

06:41 - 06:45

guy reynolds who's no stranger to

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jeopardy serving as a contributor and

06:45 - 06:50

guest in several episodes simply asked

06:48 - 06:52

trebek to make a cameo we asked him and

06:50 - 06:54

he said yes and i was just so thrilled

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that he's there immortalized up on on

06:54 - 06:58

the screen free guy begins with a

06:56 - 07:00

bombastic one-take shot that director

06:58 - 07:02

sean levy and his team have been

07:00 - 07:05

planning for over a year and a half i

07:02 - 07:07

always wanted the movie to start with an

07:05 - 07:10

opening warner introduces us to the

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crazy rules of this kind of surreal

07:10 - 07:14

world joe kiri who plays keys in the

07:12 - 07:17

film has actually worked with sean levy

07:14 - 07:19

before several times in fact we all know

07:17 - 07:21

kiri from his role as steve in stranger

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things but you may not have known that

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levy has actually been heavily involved

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in the hit sci-fi series i just trust

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him you know as a director and that's i

07:28 - 07:32

think the most important thing is just

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faith that they're going to create you

07:32 - 07:37

know the vision that's in their head

07:34 - 07:40

free guy is certainly one wild ride it's

07:37 - 07:41

abundantly clear just how passionate the

07:40 - 07:44

cast and crew were when making the

07:41 - 07:46

action comedy from unexpected cameos to

07:44 - 07:49

crazy characters there's a reason why

07:46 - 07:54

the film has attracted so many fans what

07:49 - 07:54

was your favorite moment from free guy

08:01 - 08:04

you

Behind the Scenes of Free Guy: Secrets and Surprises in the Video Game World

In "Free Guy," Ryan Reynolds dons the role of Guy, a lovable NPC who discovers his existence within a vibrant video game universe. This article unpacks the behind-the-scenes secrets of "Free Guy," exploring its dual settings, practical effects, and engaging cameos that contribute to its representation of the video game world. As you read on, you'll uncover how filmmakers paid homage to iconic gaming franchises, ensuring the film is brimming with humor and Easter eggs for gamers and movie lovers alike.

The Dual Worlds: Reality Meets Virtuality

One of the most captivating elements of "Free Guy" is its setting in two contrasting worlds: the fictional Free City, a chaotic video game realm, and the grounded reality where players exist. Director Sean Levy drew significant inspiration from popular video game franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Fortnite to shape the film's unique environment. He envisioned Free City as a perilous backdrop where a bank teller experiences robberies daily, showcasing the thrill and danger associated with video games.

Levy and director of photography George Richmond emphasized the visual distinction between the two worlds. They meticulously developed script bibles detailing how each setting would be filmed, resulting in a clear contrast that enhances the audience's experience.

Practical Effects Meet CGI

While "Free Guy" certainly incorporates its share of CGI, Levy made it a priority to utilize practical effects when possible. Notably, the scene where Guy dons his gamer glasses was crafted using real-life effects. Every element, save for an apache helicopter crash, was executed practically, even the thrilling zipline sequence. Levy recounted that numerous takes were required to perfect this chaotic moment, adding an authentic touch to the action.

Another spontaneous practical effect included a man set on fire in the middle of the street; even though it brought on tense moments, Levy believed that the payoff added to the film’s authenticity. This blend of practical effects with CGI not only contributed to the film’s comedic elements but also engaged viewers more effectively.

The Stars Behind the Characters

In "Free Guy," the character of Dude, a formidable antagonist, is portrayed by professional bodybuilder Aaron W. Reed, with Ryan Reynolds’ face superimposed for a comical effect. This meticulous casting choice highlights how the filmmakers went the extra mile to deliver an authentic visual experience for audiences.

Jodie Comer’s performance as Millie and her alter ego, Molotov Girl, showcases her versatility, with Comer adopting different accents and styles to present the two characters distinctly. Her dual roles added depth to the narrative, rendering her performance even more impressive.

Gamers Unite: Cameos and Easter Eggs

"Free Guy" features a treasure trove of Easter eggs and cameos, elevating the film’s narrative and creating surprise for avid gamers. From Marvel references to cameos by famous streamers like Ninja and Pokimane, the filmmakers seamlessly integrated beloved pop culture elements into the storyline. This inclusion was not accidental; Reynolds himself confirmed that while Easter eggs aren’t the driving force of the narrative, they enrich the film by appealing to the audience's love for video games.

The late Alex Trebek's cameo serves as a heartwarming nod, which Reynolds successfully secured due to his friendship with the beloved host. Celebrating such appearances contributes to the film’s charm and universality.

Crafting Comedy from Chaos

One standout aspect of "Free Guy" is its clever use of comedy through the game-like absurdities characterizing its environment. Drawing on inspirations from Fortnite, the ensemble cast’s antics provide endless opportunities for humor, showcasing how comedy can emerge from scenarios that defy logic. For instance, Comer found herself drawn to gameplay, enjoying the carefree spirit of Marvel’s Spider-Man while grappling with the stress of her other choices.

A Journey Filled with Passion

The lengthy delay in releasing "Free Guy" due to the pandemic ultimately proved advantageous for the creative team. With the extra time, they expanded their Easter eggs, making Free City feel even more populated and lively than originally intended. This dedication to creating an intricate film was within the vision of Levy, who sought to transform a lofty concept into a real world to engage viewers.

The film starts with a breathtaking one-shot sequence meticulously planned over 18 months, offering an exhilarating introduction to the zany rules governing this world. As fans of Reynolds appreciate his shift from snarky, mean-spirited roles to the endearing Guy, it's evident that "Free Guy" marks a joyful departure in his film career.

As "Free Guy" reminds audiences of the whimsical nature of gaming, it successfully merges wit and action with genuine charm. The film's heart lies in its joyfully chaotic environment and the unwavering enthusiasm of its cast and crew. With such a rich landscape to explore, it invites viewers to reflect on their favorite moments and consider the impact of video games on storytelling. What was your most memorable experience while watching "Free Guy"?