'Regina's homegrown superhero': Imax temporaily renamed after Deadpool character Wade Wilson

Fans gathered outside the Kramer Imax Theatre in Regina on Thursday afternoon to honour a hometown superhero with a knack for one-liners, kicking butt and getting into trouble not necessarily in that order.

The theatre has been temporarily renamed after Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds'sDeadpool character. It will be the Wade Wilson ImaxTheatre for at least two weekswhile it runs Reynolds's newflickDeadpool & Wolverine, the third film in Marvel'sDeadpool series.

In the initial 2016 film, the character claims to be from Regina, Saskatchewan,and then follows up with anold joke that it's the city"that rhymes with fun."

Since then there hasbeen an effort to build a statue of the hyper-violent, raunchy, but beloved superhero in the city. So far, petitions have been unsuccessful.

Science CentreCEO Sandy Baumgartner, whocalled Deadpool "Regina's homegrown superhero" in a recent news release,saidThursday that she is thrilled the theatre could pay homage to the Marvel character.

"It couldn't be possible without you, quite frankly," Baumgartner said to the crowd, which included many in Deadpool garb and cosplay.

"Our team is amazing and they went back and forth with Imax and Marvel and Disney to get approval to do this event. And they said yes, because of you."

Mayor Sandra Masters, a self-described massive fan of the Imax Theatre, said it's a lot of fun to have the theatre temporarilyrenamed.

"It is awesome when our city gets mentioned in pop culture," she said. "More of this would be good. It's only fitting we pay homage to Wade Wilson, Deadpool, Ryan Reynoldshere in Regina, Saskatchewan. He's a bit unconventional, but so are we."

Rumours had been swirling in the leadup to the renaming event that Reynolds himself might make a surprise appearance.

He didn't.

But Saskatchewan-born actor Style Dayne, who played "Jeremy the pizza guy"in the first Deadpool film, got a welcome worthy of a hero.

When asked about filming with Vancouver's Reynolds, Dayne said there was a great deal of improvon set. And the more improv, the more Reynolds figured out his character's hometown lore.

"He knew that, you know, athis heart and at Wade Wilson's core, this is where he lives. Just like Masters said earlier, it's about building strong people,people that can take down their opponents," said Dayne.

The ribbon cutting ceremony also featured afood truck serving "piping hot chimichangas," ameal commonly referenced by Deadpool.

Also at the event was a miniature statue of the character. The theatrewill giveaway the statue to a lucky movie-goer.

The first screening of Deadpool & Wolverineat the Wade Wilson Imax Theatre is set for Thursday evening. It will run there until at least Aug. 8.