On July 23, 2024, the press posted photos of Ryan Reynolds, Madonna, and her 11-year-old twins, Stella and Estere, joining Hugh Jackman at the premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City on Monday.

Ryan Reynolds and his Deadpool & Wolverine director, Shawn Levy, revealed during an interview on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM radio show (via People) that they personally met with Madonna to secure the rights to use “Like a Prayer” in the upcoming Marvel film. The music icon agreed, and the song ended up playing a prominent role in both the film and its trailers.

“It did involve a personal visit to Madonna, where we showed Madonna the sequence where ‘Like a Prayer’ would be used,” Levy said.

“Also, let’s preface it with the fact that they don’t license — that Madonna doesn’t just license the song, particularly that song,” Reynolds added. “It was a big deal to ask for it and certainly a bigger deal to use it… We went over and met with her and sort of showed her how it was being used, and where, and why.”

Not only did Madonna allow Reynolds and the Deadpool & Wolverine team to use “Like a Prayer,” but she also provided a note on how it should be used. While Reynolds isn’t revealing specifics just yet, he said, “She gave a great note. She watched it, and I’m not kidding, [she said], ‘You need to do this.’ And damn it, if she wasn’t like spot on.”

“We literally went into a new recording session within 48 hours to do this note. … It made the sequence better,” Levy added.

In addition to Madonna, the Deadpool & Wolverine soundtrack includes songs from *NSYNC, The Goo Goo Dolls, Fergie, Avril Lavigne, Aretha Franklin, Green Day, and The Greatest Showman soundtrack, among others.