Hugh Jackman had to undergo a dehydration regime when filming his last appearance in the X-Men franchise, Logan. For those unaware, the dehydration regime, as the name suggests, requires him to stop taking water altogether for 36 hours prior to appearing on camera. The procedure helps The Prestige actor lose water weight and achieve a ripped look for his Wolverine role.
Jackman cautioned fans against trying this regimen at home, as it could potentially lead to dangerous health problems if not done under proper supervision. Not just The Fountain actor, but Henry Cavill also revealed following this regimen for his Man of Steel role.
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Hugh Jackman Dehydrated Himself For Logan Scene
Hugh Jackman appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert back when he was promoting Logan. The Greatest Showman actor shared that he was relieved to get back to eating whatever he likes. However, the final film featuring Wolverine in the X-Men franchise had certain scenes that required Jackman to go shirtless. He revealed that filming those scenes in the film was challenging.
Jackman shared that he had to start the training at least three months before the filming commences. The Prisoners actor revealed that he had to drink nearly three gallons of water per day before filming began. This would then culminate in a 36-hour water fast just before his shirtless scene to lose the water weight in his body. Jackman shared with Stephen Colbert:
“I find out the date which is the shirt-off thing, and it’s about a three-month runup. So, you have to be in pretty good shape for the three months before, that’s very specific. And it finishes with dehydration. Don’t do this at home. You increase your water intake by up to three gallons of water a day. And then you stop about 36 hours before you shoot, but because you drank so much water, you’re peeing all the time. So you lose about ten pounds of water weight.”
Fans should take Jackman’s advice about not trying this at home seriously, as dehydration can cause health issues like kidney damage, cramping, heat exhaustion, and even death. The Real Steel actor was trained in the regimen by professional bodybuilders. Undoubtedly, Jackman showed extreme lengths of commitment to his Wolverine role, especially in his last appearance in Logan.
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Routine — Diet & Workout
Hugh Jackman was not the first choice for the role of Wolverine in X-Men. The filming had already begun when Jackman joined the cast. Jackman replaced actor Dourgray Scott, who left the project for Mission: Impossible 2. He revealed to Stephen Colbert that the director had to push his shirtless scenes to the end of filming to accommodate the Les Misérables actor’s training.
Jackman was put on a protein-rich diet which primarily included steak, eggs, oatmeal, chicken, sweet potato, broccoli, brown rice, spinach, fish, and avocado. In order to accelerate the process, he also incorporated multiple supplements into his diet, including creatine, Animal Pump, Animal Nitro, and Carnitine Liquid.
As for his workout routine, the Van Helsing actor followed a progressive overload approach. He started out with basic weight-lifting workouts like presses, squats, and deadlifts. It is interesting to note that despite not being a fan of gym workouts, he dedicated 17 years to the Wolverine routine.
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Jackman is set to reprise his role as Wolverine in MCU’s Deadpool 3, scheduled for release on July 26, 2024. Logan is now available for streaming on Disney+.
