Ryan Reynolds 'devastated' by death of Deadpool & Wolverine production designer Ray Chan as Marvel pay tribute to 'hugely generous and talented' collaborator

Ryan Reynolds has been left 'devastated' by the unexpected death of Deadpool & Wolverine production designer Ray Chan this week.

Chan was best known for being the longtime supervising art director for Marvel Studios - with his passing announced in a statement from the studios on Wednesday.

TMZ reports Reynolds, 47, who plays Deadpool is 'downright gutted' about Chan's death and that it 'hits close to home for him.'

The entire film team has been 'rocked' by the loss. 

Ray is survived by his wife Lindsay and his children Caspar and Sebastian. No cause of death has been announced.. No cause of death has been announced.

Ryan Reynolds has been left 'devastated' by the unexpected death of Deadpool & Wolverine production designer Ray Chan this week

Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are seen as Deadpool and Wolverine in the trailer for the film - set for release in July

Chan was best known for being the longtime supervising art director for Marvel Studios - with his passing announced in a statement from the studios on Wednesday

Kevin Feige, CCO of Marvel Entertainment and president of Marvel Studios, and co-president Louis D'Esposito said in a joint statement: 'Ray was first and foremost a good friend to everyone at Marvel Studios. 

'He was a talented collaborator who brought creativity and attention to detail to every frame of every movie he worked on, and who was able to bring out the best in each department he worked with.

'He was the nicest human being and was such a pleasure to work with, hugely generous, and the kind of person who could take the seed of an idea and turn it into something beautiful. 

'We are devastated by his passing. He will be missed by everyone at Marvel, and our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends.'

Ray first joined Marvel Studios on Thor: The Dark World as Supervising Art Director and went on to be Supervising Art Director on many other Marvel films, including Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. 

He was also an Art Director on Spider-Man: Far From Home, as well as Production Designer on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Additional Photography, and the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. 

Kevin Feige, CCO of Marvel Entertainment and president of Marvel Studios, and co-president Louis D'Esposito said in a joint statement: 'Ray was first and foremost a good friend to everyone at Marvel Studios. 'He was a talented collaborator who brought creativity and attention to detail to every frame of every movie he worked on

The announcement comes days after the  explosive second trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine debuted on Monday morning - with Reynolds' and Hugh Jackman's iconic superheroes facing off in action-packed fashion.

Reynolds' hero walks into a dive bar where Hugh Jackman's Wolverine is trying to get a drink but the bartender refuses to serve him,

Deadpool is in his red and black suit as she tells Wolverine to get out of the bar but the old Wolf says no.

A gun is put to his head after the former good guy's claws start to pop out from his knuckles. Deadpool won't stop teasing the 'over 40' icon and even drops the F-bomb.

Throughout the clip, Deadpool is trying hard to coax Wolverine back into a life of being a good guy superhero while Wolverine strongly resists.

This is the third installment in the Deadpool series of films and the first set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

The announcement comes days after the explosive second trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine debuted on Monday morning - with Reynolds' and Hugh Jackman's iconic superheroes facing off in action-packed fashion 

Two posters were also shared on Monday with both Reynolds and Jackman featured with their weapons

Deadpool and Wolverine go at it to Madonna’s late 80s tune Like a Prayer.

'I’m about to lose everything that I’ve ever cared about,' Deadpool tells Wolverine. Wolverine then says dryly: 'Not my f***ing problem.'

'Is that what you said when your world went to s***?' Deadpool counters.

Then the very grumpy Wolverine sticks his claws in Deadpool's crotch.

Later Deadpool tries to get under Wolverine's skin: 'Wanna talk about what’s haunting you, or should we wait for a third act flashback?'

Deadpool & Wolverine comes nearly six years after the release of Deadpool 2.

The first trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine debuted during the Super Bowl and broke the record for the most-viewed movie trailer within 24 hours with 365 million total views.

Wolverine's superhero days are far behind him as he sips alcohol at a lonely bar

Later, Wolverine is seen in a yellow and black suit as his claws are seen

The two work side by side but also bicker and fight

Jackman showed off his ripped arms as he patrolled the streets with Reynolds' Deadpool

Deadpool did battle during the action-packed trailer 

The pair wreak havoc during the explosive trailer

The superheroes are seen bonding over the course of the new movie

Wolverine looks mortally wounded as he lies on the floor after a fight scene

Deadpool and Wolverine debuts in theaters July 26, and has become one of the most hotly-anticipated summer films. 

There have been many who were also wondering if John Brolin's Cable from 2018's Deadpool 2, though the actor was quite coy on the subject.

While promoting his new movie Dune: Part 2 in an interview with Collider, Brolin was asked if he's in Deadpool 3 and if not, why, though Brolin gave a bizarre answer.

'No. I don't know. Because Ryan (Reynolds) doesn't like me? I don't know. I don't know! Maybe?' Brolin said with a smile.

It was confirmed that this story will take place before the events of 2017's Logan, where Jackman's Wolverine was killed, which was set in the year 2029.

All that is known about the story is that ultimately Deadpool and Wolverine team up again and they will, 'team up to defeat a common enemy.'

Throughout the clip, Deadpool is trying hard to coax Wolverine back into a life of being a good guy superhero while Wolverine strongly resists

Deadpool is also seen with his mask off

The first Deadpool was released in 2016 and made box office history as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, earning $782.8 million worldwide from just a $58 million budget.

The 2018 sequel Deadpool 2 took in $785.6 million from a $110 million budget that paved the way for Deadpool and Wolverine.