While 2016's box office hit "Deadpool" may have introduced the Merc with a Mouth to a wider audience, the solo film actually was not Wade Wilson's feature film debut. The character, played by Ryan Reynolds, debuted in 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," albeit in an almost unrecognizable fashion. That film's take on Deadpool involved giving him a different powerset, removing his body scarring, ditching his red and black costume and sewing his mouth shut. That version of Deadpool proved wildly unpopular with fans, so much so that Reynolds even took a few shots at "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" in this year's "Deadpool" film.

In an interview with Cinema Blend, Gavin Hood -- the director of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" -- revealed what he thought about Ryan Reynolds' take on the Merc in his solo movie.

"I think the character works so well now, because the character is allowed to be who the character really is, unencumbered by, you know, PG-13 requirements and a great deal of marketing debate," said Hood. "I think the fact that the filmmakers kind of made that film below the radar -- and I happen to know a little bit, only because my production designer from 'Ender's Game,' Sean Haworth, is a fantastic designer, was the designer on 'Deadpool.' I remember when he was making the film, it was just a little bit more below the radar initially. And more credit to the filmmakers and to Ryan [Reynolds], that they took control of their character and got on and let Ryan do the film. Deadpool is a motor mouth, foul mouth character, and it's very difficult with these big movies to, when you have to work within certain parameters that are set by [studio heads]."

Hood spoke a little about why Deadpool was handled the way he was in his "Wolverine" film. "You know, when [Ryan Reynolds] did the little cameo bit in 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine,' it was exactly what we've been talking about. It was the studio attempting to plug in a few characters and test the waters. But now he gets to make his own movie and he did it with great courage and with the full force of his personality, so he deserves every success. I think he's done really well, and I think it's fantastic that they had the courage to just go ahead and make the film...They just made the film the way it needed to be made, I think."

"Deadpool" has so far grossed $355 million domestically, making it the highest grossing X-Men movie to date.