Shawn Levy Reveals How "The Pink Panther" Inspired His Marvel Film

The director of 'Deadpool & Wolverine' expresses appreciation for the 2006 film, which marked its 20th anniversary in February.

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Director Shawn Levy gained valuable insight into using the camera for humor while working on 2006'sThe Pink Panther
Explaining how the crime comedy influenced his work at Marvel, Levy states, "the camera becomes part of the humor. And usually, the more straightforward method is the funnier one."
The Pink Panther marked its 20th anniversary in February

Although Shawn Levy has maintained a lengthy career that includes numerous films,The Pink Panther had a significant influence on him as a director. The 57-year-old director mentions that he discovered how to utilize the camera as part of the humor for more humorous scenes during his work on the 2006 crime comedy.

One scene from the film, he remarks, altered how the director composed especially humorous moments on screen.

Inspector Clouseau (Steve Martin) is following Beyoncé'scharacter, Xania, in New York City. When he thinks he has been discovered, he shouts, "Newspapers," and takes out a big newspaper to cover his face. Once he pulls out the prop, he fails to notice the subway entrance and then tumbles down the stairs.

"I recall that because that movie was one of the first in my career, and it's the film that made me start considering how the frame contributes to the humor," Levy says.

I recall thinking about several other perspectives where I would have depicted a stuntman rolling down the staircase from behind and then from the front toward the camera," he continues. "That was a realization moment where I understood, 'Oh, the camera is part of the joke's storytelling. And usually, the simpler method is the funnier one.'

The filmmaker —who has since gone on to directNight at the Museum, Date Night, episodes of Stranger Thingsas well as the soon-to-comeStar Wars: Starfighter — mentions that he "learned this the hard way on other films."

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"I attempted a complicated camera movement during a joke, and it made the humor less clear. Steve not noticing the stairs ahead because his face is covered by the newspaper. That was an example of a single continuous shot that enhances the joke in a more amusing manner," Levy explains.

Later on, when he was shooting 2024'sDeadpool & Wolverine, there was a huge moment featuring Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) battled more than 60 other Deadpools.

That's a comparable shot, one continuous, horizontally moving wide shot. ButThe Pink Panther was where I first began my studies in film comedy and learned how the camera must be involved," Levy remembers.

In addition to Beyoncé, 44, and Martin, 80,The Pink Pantherfeaturing Jean Reno, Kevin Kline, Emily Mortimer, and Henry Czerny, among others.

When it comes to rebooting the crime comedy film series at that time, Levy mentions that "everyone approached it with a respect for the legacy we were taking on and respect for the script that Steve Martin had created."

There was also "a dedication to enjoy the process and translate that enjoyment from off-screen to on-screen for viewers," Levy notes. "When the film became such a huge success, it was truly rewarding. We were aware we would face critical scrutiny. You don't alter a classic without taking that chance. The way the audience accepted the movie and Steve in this fresh version of Clouseau was very encouraging."

The Pink Panther, first shown in cinemas on February 10, 2006, can be watched online via Kanopy and Roku TV.

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