Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively surprise fans at first Deadpool screening

Ryan Reynolds and his wife Blake Lively stunned fans in New York on Monday (18Jan16) by making an unexpected appearance during a surprise Deadpool screening.

Fans thought they were settling in for a sneak peek at select scenes from the upcoming X-Men spin-off movie at the event, designed as a question and answer session about the filmmaking process, but instead, they were treated to a full screening, complete with an appearance from Ryan himself, who reprises his role as the titular anti-hero.

The actor, who previously portrayed the comic book killer, aka Wade Wilson, in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, walked out onstage halfway through the pre-screening discussion, much to the excitement of the lucky cinema-goers.

"I know we were going to be showing you guys some footage but... hell, you wanna just see the whole film?" he asked the crowd, which included supportive wife Blake. "Let's just show you the whole movie!"

Ryan later shared a snap of himself in front of the packed audience, and captioned the image, "Well, that went well. Surprising an entire theater full of people with an early screening of #Deadpool."

Blake posted the same image on her Instagram page, and pointed herself out in the background by drawing an arrow on the picture.

"Who's that babe in the back?!" she joked. "It was my first time seeing the movie tonight-- yes, at the surprise screening for the fans, I mean who do I have to sleep with to get into this movie?! Have to say... Best. Movie. Ever. No joke."

Blake wasn't the only superfan in attendance - other guests also raved about the movie on social media after the screening.

Deadpool, which has been rated R by boardmembers at the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), is set to hit cinemas next month (Feb16), but film fans in China will have to find other ways to see the blockbuster after officials banned its theater release due to high levels of violence, nudity and strong language.