Summary
- Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell surprised audiences by swapping places during their late-night talk show interviews, showcasing their comedic talents and creating buzz.
- The prank was likely a result of the actors wanting to inject some creativity into their press appearances for their holiday movie, Spirited, as well as their individual projects.
- The unexpected switch brought attention to the actors and their films, generating conversation and possibly contributing to the success of their respective movies.
In the fall of 2022, viewers of The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live! had a great surprise when one highly popular celebrity substituted for another on both shows. While the hosts and audience were waiting for interviews with Ryan Reynolds (on Jimmy Kimmel) and Will Ferrell (on Jimmy Fallon), the opposite occurred, surprising everyone involved.
While the two actors claimed that they each received a text from the other that they were running late to the interview, it's well known that the two shows are recorded on opposite ends of the country. Was this a unique marketing scheme that the two came up with, or did it fall flat? Although the appearances are still talked about today, others feel that the situation was done awkwardly.
Ryan Reynolds Is Known For His Humor
Fans have seen the humor that Ryan Reynolds brings to the acting world, as well as the personal joking that takes place on social media between himself and his wife, Blake Lively. Every Ryan Reynolds interview is expected to come with a slew of jokes or funny anecdotes.
Regarding his late-night talk show appearances, Reynolds has always kept true to form and displayed his personality in full form.
While the switch between the two actors was apparently unexpected by guests and the hosts, it's also understood by fans that such a prank is definitely within the star's wheelhouse and isn't something that fans and others in the industry should discount as a possibility when inviting Reynolds onto their stage or show.
Will Ferrell And Ryan Reynolds Had A Holiday Movie Coming Out
In 2022, Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds were set to release a holiday movie together on AppleTV. The film, entitled Spirited, was a play on Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. At the same time, the actors had other movies being released that were separate from their joint project.
Both individuals were involved in a significant amount of press appearances for these projects. It's likely that the mundane nature of interview after interview is what caused the two actors to get creative.
At the time, Ryan Reynolds was gearing up for the release of Red Notice with Gal Gadot and Dwayne Johnson. The actor was amid heavy promotion for the film as it neared its Netflix release date of November 12, 2022.
No stranger to holiday movies himself, Will Ferrell was making the press rounds to talk about Spirited as well as The Shrink Next Door with Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn, which was released in the same month.
With both actors being in the industry for several decades, it's known that they have participated in countless interviews about the projects that they have taken part in. Although it's par for the course when you are a top-billed actor, it will likely become monotonous and a bit of a bore as they continue.
Ryan Reynolds Showed Up While Will Ferrell Ditched Jimmy Fallon
While we have discussed Ryan Reynolds' seamless comedic timing and quick wit, Ferrell is no stranger to that scene. Will Ferrell is highly skilled at improv comedy, and he utilized that talent when it came to a pre-planned late-show appearance swap with Ryan Reynolds.
With the two promoting their holiday film Spirited and each having personal projects coming out (Ferrell with The Shrink Next Door and Reynolds with Red Notice), the two concocted a prank where they went to each other's scheduled interviews and surprised the late-night hosts.
While Will Ferrell was slated to appear on the Jimmy Fallon show in New York City, Ryan Reynolds showed up in his place. On another network, Ryan Reynolds was scheduled to appear in Hollywood on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, and Will Ferrell showed up to provide an interview instead.
Neither host has clarified whether they were in on the bit, but it appears that both Fallon and Kimmel were taken by surprise when an actor they weren't expecting showed up on the stage. The swap brought forth a bit of presumed confusion between the two Jimmys, but they were able to recover quickly and proceed with the interview.
One thing is for sure: the stunt created a lot of conversation, which is likely the exact outcome the two were hoping for. When it comes to marketing, having a unique angle can often bring a higher level of attention to the service, product, or creation.
Instead of conducting the same routine interview that had already taken place on several other networks and publications, the two actors took matters into their own hands and planned a switch with their previously scheduled appearances.
While we don't know if the situation in question was the reason behind the film's success, all three movies went on to perform exceptionally well on their specific platforms.
