Gavin Guerette, Senior Photographer

This Wednesday, Yalies will hear from director Shawn Levy ’89 and actor Ryan Reynolds. 

Levy and Reynolds have collaborated on multiple projects, including “Free Guy”, “The Adam Project” and “Deadpool and Wolverine.” The duo will discuss their multiple years of partnership and the dynamics of the film industry in a conversation moderated by film journalist Kevin McCarthy.

“I’m inspired to meet young academics and hopefully illustrate how dreams really do come true, especially when dreamt at Yale,” Reynolds wrote to the News. “I’d have given anything to attend an institution like this, but I’ve always struggled with math. Ultimately, my goal is to one day buy the entire concept of math. And then have it destroyed. Because it scares me.”

According to Levy, his love for collaboration grew during his time with the Yale Dramatic Association, also known as the Dramat.

Beyond the lessons that he learned in the classroom, Levy was inspired by the theatrical productions he acted in and directed. During his senior year, Levy directed a production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

“The fact that all three of our collaborations have turned out to be such global hits is certainly thrilling, but the PROCESS of making these movies has truly been our favorite part,” Levy wrote about his work with Reynolds.

Describing his work with the Dramat as “life-defining,” Levy remarked that the friendships he forged and lessons he learned about collaborative, creative teamwork are “still bedrock values” he tries to uphold in every production he works in.

Levy seeks to bring these similar lessons to current Yale students by bridging the gap between academic studies and professional practices.

Praising the Schwarzman Center for allowing professionals to speak with student artists, Levy hopes that students will be inspired by his stories and use them “as fuel for their own pursuits.”

Levy had previously visited Yale on Jan. 16 to discuss his experiences and challenges in working in the film industry. There, he spoke about “Crafting the Hollywood Dream.”

Many attendees of Wednesday’s event, such as Denise Pawleen Cabrera ’28, have watched films starring Reynolds and films directed and produced by Levy. 

“I’ve also worked in media production in the past, so I’m excited to listen to industry professionals as they share their experiences and pieces of advice,” Cabrera said.

In addition to speaking about his own experiences at Yale and within the film industry, Levy will talk with Reynolds about their partnership across different projects. Levy described their partnership as a “brotherhood founded upon mutual respect.”

In an email to the News, Reynolds said that his “deep respect” for Levy and his time at Yale is what inspired him to speak alongside Levy on Wednesday.

“I’m humbled to stand next to my friend, proud son of Yale, at his esteemed Alma Mater…I don’t know what ‘Alma Mater’ means in America, but in Canada it means inviting people to dinner, giving them a ten-minute head start, and then hunting them,” Reynolds jokingly wrote.

Shawn Levy first met Ryan Reynolds while directing “Real Steel.”