Ryan Reynolds reacts to Neil Patrick Harris stealing his Deadpool role

Ryan Reynolds isn’t letting go of Deadpool without a fight — or at least some carefully plotted vengeance.

After several years as the face, voice and personal cheerleader of the merc with a mouth, Reynolds has been usurped by Neil Patrick Harris, who is set to voice the comic book character in Marvel’s Deadpool VR, a new game for the Meta Quest 3 and 3S. And Reynolds is taking the news about as well as expected. 

Hours after the trailer for the game arrived on Saturday, Reynolds shared a video in which he is seen “overreacting” to the news. 

The video opens with the Deadpool & Wolverine star sitting at a decades-old computer while wearing glasses and a lab coat in an apartment eerily similar to that of the title character in Doogie Howser, MD., Harris’ star-making role.

Ryan Reynolds in ‘Doogie Howser M.D.’ spoof; Neil Patrick Harris in a 1989 photo from the real thing.

Ryan Reynolds/YouTube; ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

“Today, I learned a lesson about buttholes they don’t teach you in medical school,” Reynolds narrates. “People who steal your signature role are the biggest buttholes of all.”

Spoofing the journal entries that Doogie often made on the show, Reynolds continued, “No, I don’t blame Meta Quest. Neil Patrick Harris is an amazing actor with the nurturing voice of an angel, but even though I haven’t hit puberty yet, I still know when you’re getting totally screwed.”

Reynolds is then interrupted by the appearance of Robyn Lively, who played a love interest to Harris in Doogie Howser M.D. “House call,” she announces.

Staying in character, Reynolds says, “My girlfriend, what are you doing here? If my dad sees you here, he’s gonna freak.”

But Lively, the half-sister of Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively, doesn’t play along.

“You’re a 48-year-old man,” she reminds him.

“I’m a 14-year-old medical prodigy who’s going through the change,” Reynolds insists, sticking to the stolen character before breaking the fourth wall to remind her: “Robin, you’re being paid.”

Lively ignores him and deadpans, “This is vindictive and stupid.”

Ryan Reynolds reacts to having Deadpool role stolen for Marvel’s Deadpool VR game.

Ryan Reynolds/YouTube

But Reynolds is not dissuaded from his revenge quest. Later, he even attempts to double down on the role of Doogie by going in for a kiss with Robyn, but can’t bring himself to do it.

“I don’t think we should do that because you’re my sister-in-law,” he says, giving up.

Lively replies, “You’re so dumb.”

While Reynolds’ tenure as Doogie was shortlived, Harris is committing to his role as Deadpool. The trailer for the upcoming game promises an adventure that’s “not for the faint of heart,” warning players to “put on your big-kid undies and strap in for a violent, expletive-ridden good time.” 

The game is slated to drop later this year. In the meantime, watch Reynolds attempt to steal the role of Doogie in the video above.