In a heart-wrenching twist that has left Hollywood reeling and the internet in collective meltdown, beloved actor and producer Ryan Reynolds was savagely mauled by a ferocious sloth bear during what was supposed to be an idyllic eco-tour deep in the Amazon rainforest. The 49-year-old star, known for his quick wit, Deadpool charm, and recent pivot into wildlife advocacy through his hit National Geographic series Underdogs, was left with gruesome face-claw wounds after the unexpected ambush. Eyewitness accounts describe a scene straight out of a survival thriller: Reynolds, mid-conversation about “underrated Amazon critters,” suddenly facing down a 200-pound beast with claws like switchblades.The incident unfolded on Monday afternoon near the remote Ituxi River, about 300 miles southwest of Manaus, Brazil. Reynolds, accompanied by a small crew from his production company Maximum Effort and a local guide from  Amazon Eco Adventures, was on a low-key scouting trip. The group had ventured off the beaten path to film bonus content for the second season of Underdogs, Reynolds’ Emmy-nominated docuseries that spotlights “superzero” animals – those overlooked predators and survivors of the wild. Sloth bears, with their shaggy coats, long snouts, and deceptively lazy demeanor, were high on the list. “Ryan was geeking out about how these guys can scare off tigers with a single roar,” recalled crew member and cinematographer Mia Lopez in an exclusive interview with Daily Buzz News. “He called them ‘the original Deadpools of the jungle – chill until they’re not.’ Little did we know how prophetic that would be.”

What started as a serene hike through vine-draped canopies and babbling streams turned nightmarish in seconds. According to Lopez, the group paused near a cluster of termite mounds – a favorite snack spot for sloth bears – when rustling in the underbrush escalated into chaos. “It was like a furry freight train,” Lopez said, her voice trembling over a shaky phone line from a riverside lodge. “This massive sloth bear burst out, eyes wild, jaws unhinged. Ryan was closest; he threw his backpack like a shield, but it latched onto his arm first, then swung those claws right across his face.” The attack lasted less than 30 seconds but felt eternal, with the bear’s powerful forelimbs pinning Reynolds to the damp earth as it tore at his cheek and jawline. Screams echoed through the canopy as the guide fired warning shots from a flare gun, finally driving the beast back into the foliage.

Reynolds, ever the showman, reportedly quipped through the pain as medics swarmed: “Note to self: Next time, cast Hugh Jackman as the bear.” But behind the humor lay a grim reality. He was airlifted via emergency helicopter to a specialist trauma center in Manaus, where surgeons spent six hours stitching 28 lacerations, including deep gashes from his right temple to chin. Sources close to the actor confirm the wounds are “severe but not life-threatening,” with risks of infection high due to the bear’s saliva carrying tropical bacteria. As of press time, Reynolds remains in stable condition, sedated and under observation, with his wife, actress Blake Lively, en route from Los Angeles with their four children.

The news hit like a gut punch for Reynolds’ global fanbase. Within hours, #PrayForRyan trended worldwide, amassing over 15 million posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Celebrities from Hugh Jackman (“Mate, you’re tougher than my adamantium. Get well, you magnificent bastard.”) to Taylor Swift (“Ryan, the world needs your laugh. Sending all the love and zero bears.”) flooded social media with messages of support. Fan-led vigils popped up outside Vancouver’s Maximum Effort offices, where bouquets of red roses – a nod to Deadpool’s suit – piled high. On TikTok, edits of Reynolds’ funniest moments intercut with sloth bear memes went viral, blending heartbreak with his signature irreverence. “It’s surreal,” tweeted one fan with 500K followers. “Ryan’s the guy who makes cancer battles funny. Now this? The universe is playing dirty.”

But beneath the memes and prayers lies a darker undercurrent: the growing perils of eco-tourism in a warming world. Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus), native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of South America via migratory pockets, are no cuddly tree-dwellers like their three-toed cousins. These nocturnal foragers, with claws evolved for digging termite hills, have seen a 40% uptick in human encounters since 2020, per a 2025 WWF report. Deforestation for soy farms and mining has shrunk their habitat, pushing them into tourist trails. “Reynolds’ attack isn’t isolated,” warns Dr. Elena Vasquez, a wildlife biologist at the Amazon Conservation Institute. “We’ve documented 127 maulings this year alone in Brazil and India, up from 89 in 2024. These bears aren’t aggressive by nature – they’re cornered and starving.”

Vasquez, who consulted on Underdogs Season 1, elaborated in our Zoom interview: “Ryan’s series humanizes these animals, showing their vulnerabilities. Ironically, that’s what brought him too close. Sloth bears charge when threatened, aiming for the face to blind threats – a survival tactic that’s maimed loggers and hikers alike.” She paused, scrolling through grainy trail cam images. “The good news? Reynolds’ quick thinking saved him. He didn’t run; he stood his ground, which deterred a full takedown. But those claws? They’re designed to rip through bark – imagine them on human flesh.”

Back in Hollywood, the ripple effects are already felt. Production on Underdogs Season 2 has halted indefinitely, with Netflix insiders whispering of a potential $5 million insurance claim. Reynolds’ next gig, a rom-com with Sandra Bullock tentatively titled The Proposal 2: Bearly Legal, faces delays as his facial injuries could require reconstructive surgery. “He’s joking about it on his private jet home,” a source dishes. “Says the scars will make him ‘the next Wolverine – with better hair.’” Yet, those close to him paint a more somber picture: Lively, who postponed a It Ends With Us sequel press junket, is “devastated but fierce,” coordinating with Brazilian authorities for a bear relocation program.

Fan hysteria peaked Tuesday morning when leaked photos surfaced on TMZ – blurry cell snaps from the chopper showing Reynolds’ bandaged face, one eye swollen shut, cheek stitched like a patchwork quilt. “It’s like seeing Deadpool unmasked for real,” one Redditor posted in r/ReynoldsNation, sparking a 50K-upvote thread. The images, quickly pulled for privacy violations, fueled a wave of body-double conspiracies: “CGI bear attack for promo? Ryan’s too savvy for this.” But Lopez, the cinematographer, shuts down the speculation: “I was there. The blood was real. Ryan’s first words post-op? ‘Tell Blake I love her – and cancel the honey for breakfast.’ Classic him.”

As the sun sets over the Amazon – a place Reynolds once called “Earth’s green heartbeat” – questions linger. Will this mauling redefine his advocacy? Underdogs, which drew 12 million viewers last season by blending humor with hard truths about endangered species, might now pivot to “human-animal collision” episodes. Reynolds, a vocal UN ambassador for wildlife, could channel his recovery into policy pushes: stricter eco-tour guidelines, drone scouting over foot treks, or funding for bear-proof barriers in indigenous villages.

For now, the world holds its breath. Vigils continue, with virtual candlelight streams on Twitch raising $250K for Amazon Wildlife Rescue by midday. Jackman launched a GoFundMe for Reynolds’ “Claw Comeback Fund,” joking it’ll buy “indestructible Deadpool masks for all.” Swifties and Marvel stans unite in a rare cross-fandom truce, proving Reynolds’ universal appeal.

In the end, this isn’t just a  celebrity scare – it’s a stark reminder of our fragile dance with nature. As Reynolds might tweet from his hospital bed: “Bears: 1, Humans: Still learning.” Get well soon, Ryan. The jungle – and the world – needs its underdog king.