Ryan Reynolds has responded to Neil Patrick Harris being cast as the voice of Deadpool in the upcoming Marvel’s Deadpool VR game with a signature dose of sarcasm and pop culture flair — and it’s all hilariously wrapped in a Doogie Howser, M.D. parody.
Harris, best known for playing Doogie Howser and Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, has been revealed as the new voice of Wade Wilson for Meta Quest 3 and 3S. That didn’t sit entirely well with Reynolds, who’s portrayed the Merc with a Mouth across four live-action films and helped define the character for a generation. But instead of firing back with anger, he did what he does best — made fun of it.
Reynolds Goes Full Doogie in the Skit
In the video, which Reynolds posted on his official YouTube channel, he sits at a retro computer dressed in a white lab coat, mimicking the iconic format of Doogie Howser’s digital diary entries. Typing solemnly, his voiceover says:
“Today, I learned a lesson about b——– they don’t teach you in medical school. People who steal your signature role are the biggest b——– of all.”
The set looks nearly identical to Doogie’s bedroom from the late ’80s show — a nice touch for longtime fans. He even pokes fun at himself, joking about still not having hit puberty but knowing when someone’s being totally “s——.”
Robyn Lively Joins In
The skit gets even more meta when Robyn Lively — who starred in Doogie Howser, M.D. and is also Blake Lively’s half-sister — bursts in shouting “House call!” Reynolds awkwardly refers to her as his “girlfriend,” before she breaks the fourth wall, reminding him he’s a 48-year-old man. Reynolds then counters with a tongue-in-cheek jab, saying she’s only there because she’s getting paid.
When Lively calls him “vindictive and stupid,” he fires back:
“I disagree with that diagnosis.”
A Classic Reynolds Ending
The clip ends with a cut to the Marvel’s Deadpool VR trailer, followed by a goofy, almost-kiss between Reynolds and Lively, which he pulls away from, muttering about her being his sister-in-law — to which she simply replies, “dumb.”
The Bottom Line
While Neil Patrick Harris may be taking over Deadpool’s voice in VR, Ryan Reynolds has once again proved he’s still the king of Deadpool-style pettiness. With sharp wit, deep-cut references, and fourth-wall-breaking humor, Reynolds’ video is not just a clapback — it’s a hilarious tribute to both Deadpool and Doogie Howser, M.D.
Game on, Meta.
