Deadpool 2: Ryan Reynolds defends controversial joke after fan backlash

WARNING: Mild spoiler for Deadpool 2 ahead.

Some DC fans have taken issue with a reference his on-screen alias makes to a maligned part of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.

In that movie, Batman is about to kill Superman when the latter tells the former to “save Martha” – a name that sparks memories of his own mother, who was murdered when he was a child.

The scene was been often mocked – and now Deadpool 2 joins the fun when Wade arrives home late and gives Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) the excuse: “I was fighting a caped bad-ass, only to discover his mom is named Martha, too.”

Deadpool is known for the pop culture references, and for gently mocking similar films within the same genre.

Still, that hasn’t stopped a minor backlash over the Martha joke from some disgruntled DC fans.

Speaking to the Empire Film Podcast, Reynolds said: “The Martha gag, it’s a perfectly Deadpool moment.

“I think Deadpool is willing to break a few eggs to make that omelette.”

He added: “I didn’t write that joke, I’ll say that one. That’s one joke I didn’t write.”

Deadpool 2 has been a big success since its release last week, nailing the second biggest US box office opening ever for an R-rated movie.

It also holds an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating positive feedback from the vast majority of movie critics.

Several cameos pop up in the movie, including Hugh Jackman – courtesy of footage from 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, as seen in the end credits scenes.

It was recently revealed that a previous draft of the script had the cast of the flop 2015 Fantastic Four remake reuniting in another mid-credits sequence, but this never came to fruition.

Deadpool 2 is out now.