Ryan Reynolds recalls desperate Bill Murray call, hurling a profane remark at Blake Lively to land John Candy documentary
The Deadpool star says he left about 40 messages for Murray and turned to a video plea from his children before the comedian agreed to participate.
Ryan Reynolds recounted a notably persistent bid to recruit Bill Murray for his documentary John Candy: I Like Me, describing how the effort unfolded during a New Jersey appearance promoting the project. He said he finally secured Murray’s number through a network of friends and began leaving messages in a bid to “pick Murray’s brain” about the life of late comedian John Candy. Reynolds, 48, indicated he was prepared to go to Murray and do whatever it took to secure the interview, according to coverage referencing the Daily Mail.
During the same event, Reynolds said he and wife Blake Lively, 38, were about to walk into a formal engagement when Murray’s name popped up on his phone. Lively reportedly urged, “We have to go in,” and Reynolds responded with a spontaneous expletive in the moment. Murray reportedly pledged to respond, but Reynolds continued the outreach, leaving roughly 40 more messages in what he described as a desperate bid to wrap production on the project. The actor later said Murray returned the call as the couple headed into the event, asking what Reynolds needed for JC (John Candy).
The long pursuit culminated in a promising moment when Reynolds sent a video message to Murray, aided by attempts from his children to persuade the actor as well. Reynolds recalled that two seconds after the video was shared, Murray asked what was needed for the project and ultimately agreed to participate in the documentary.
Reynolds and Lively, who married in 2012, are known for public joking and good-natured trolling of one another. The pair share four children: James, 10, Inez, 8, Betty, 5, and Olin, 2. A representative for Lively did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment on the episode. The couple has also been in the public eye for Lively’s involvement in the It Ends With Us film adaptation with Justin Baldoni, and they were photographed recently enjoying a boating outing to close out the summer.
Reynolds has previously spoken about the strengths of their marriage. In a 2024 interview with People, he described the dynamic as rooted in mutual support and shared enthusiasm for each other’s successes. The star couple remains a staple of Hollywood culture for their collaborative humor and public camaraderie, whether on screen or in candid anecdotes like this latest Murray outreach.
