‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: Who Is Nick Pauley? Meet Ryan Reynolds’ Dance Double Aka ‘Dancepool’ Who Performed to NSYNC’s ‘Bye Bye Bye’ in Opening Fight Scene!
Nick Pauley is a choreographer and a creative entrepreneur who had stepped in for Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool when the latter was bashing the hell out of TVA agents while dancing to NSYNC's 'Bye Bye Bye' song.
Whether you end up loving Deadpool & Wolverine or not, it is hard not to dislike the opening credits scene. (SPOILERS AHEAD) Shawn Levy's Deadpool & Wolverine begins with a flash-forward scene (in terms of the movie's prologue) when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) visits Wolverine's (Hugh Jackman) grave at the end of the 2017 film Logan and digs it up, refusing to believe he is dead (because of his regenerative abilities). Logan is very much dead, though, much to Deadpool's annoyance, his body is now nothing more than an adamantium skeleton. It's when he is ambushed by TVA agents, and Deadpool ends up killing them using Logan's skeletal remains. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Ending and Post-Credits Scene Explained: Will Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Logan Return for Future ‘Avengers’ Movies?
But it was no ordinarily choreographed fight; Deadpool performs his lethal blows to the beats of NSYNC's breakout '90s hit "Bye Bye Bye". He even pulls off the band's iconic dance moves in here.
However, in a not-so-secret move that broke the hearts of all Ryan Reynolds fans, it is not the actor who pulled off those moves. It is his 'dance double' Nick Pauley who did the jiggle bits.
Nick Pauley - The 'Dancepool'
Nick Pauley himself confirmed this when he posted a picture of himself in the Deadpool suit a couple of days back.
In the post, he wrote, "I am Dancepool in the new Deadpool and Wolverine. This secret has been so hard to keep! I can’t believe I have the honour of being @vancityreynolds “dance” double for the opening scene of the entire movie!!! Like what?!? What is life? (sic)" ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Review: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Fan-Pleasing Antics Ain’t Enough To Redeem Marvel Cinematic Universe!
Watch the OG 'Bye Bye Bye' Song:
He later posted a video of him dancing to the NSYNC song a day later, albeit without the Deadpool suit.
So, who is Nick Pauley (full name: Nicholas Pauley)? Nick Pauley is a choreographer who calls himself a creative entrepreneur as per his LinkedIn profile (he even lists 'Dancepool' in there). He works as a Creative Consultant for movies and live performances. Pauley choreographs dance routines, while also shooting and editing short creative films. According to his LinkedIn profile, he started his career in 2018, having studied BA in World Arts and Cultures/Dance at UCLA; as a choreographer, he has worked with artists like Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj, as well as the Academy of Villains & Pepsi Co.
While posting about Pauley on X, director Shawn Levy wrote. "Nick came in and straight up MURDERED for us on #DeadpoolAndWolverine." He didn't say which song the artiste performed on, but everyone knew about it by then.
Let's hope to see more of Nick Pauley's dance moves in future movies as well, maybe even without the mask. Deadpool & Wolverine has meanwhile grossed USD 438.3 million globally in its opening weekend, the highest for an R-rated movie.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 29, 2024 06:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).