‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman Surprise Comic-Con With Screening

UPDATED: What’s the best way to spend the first night of San Diego Comic-Con? Why, watching a surprise screening of Deadpool & Wolverine. Which is exactly what went down tonight in Hall H after the pic’s stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin and the movie’s director/writer/producer Shawn Levy took the stage with Marvel Studios‘ Kevin Feige for a quick, hysterical chat.

Fans zoomed inside holding Wolverine popcorn buckets which were given out — clearly indicating moments before a screening was in store.

The D&W gang even hung around to watch the movie.

As Deadline already told you the (technically) first R-rated movie in Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe is barreling toward an R-rated record preview night between $35M-$40M+, easily decimating the previous record held by Deadpool 2 ($18.6M). Exhibition and tracking figured Deadpool & Wolverine would open to $160M-$170M, however, a $200M 3-day wouldn’t be out of the question.

Many are expecting an R-rated record for the Levy feature which will notch way ahead of Deadpool‘s opening record for the rating of $132.4M.

When the lights came up tonight, there was a standing ovation for the film with all the cameos called out on stage including Jennifer Garner, Channing Tatum, Wesley Snipes, Chris Evans and Dafne Keen. Feige advised the crowd to watch the San Diego skies tonight for what’s expected to be a drone show.

Why doesn’t Marvel Studios open more movies over Comic-Con weekend? It’s clear a festive tradition began tonight in the birthplace of California.