You won’t regret picturing this: it’s a tranquil day at the British Museum, and out of nowhere, you’re swept into a burst of laughter as Hugh Jackman leaps into an impromptu Wolverine performance in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.
This cheeky cameo caught us as off-guard as a rabbit in headlights and had us giggling with glee at Jackman’s seamless pivot from noble King Arthur to our beloved adamantium-clawed mutant. But wait, was this the best cameo to ever grace the big screen? Well, sure, many would argue that it could even give Tom Cruise’s riotous turn as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder a run for its money!
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine: The Uncredited Cameo That Became Fan Favorite
Hugh Jackman and Tom Cruise are two of the biggest names in Hollywood, known for their brilliant performances in action-packed films. But what would happen when they decided to let loose and show off their comedic chops? The result was pure entertainment gold.
In 2014, Jackman made a surprise cameo in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, playing himself in a hilarious showdown in a local theater’s staging of Camelot with Lancelot (Dan Stevens).
When Lancelot stormed onto the stage, interrupting the performance in an attempt to snatch his beloved Guinevere (Alice Eve), here’s when Jackman, in the role of King Arthur, came into play (see YouTube). Disregarding his orders to leave the stage, Lancelot sneered, “You do not scare me, Huge Act-man”, and pointed his sword at Jackman.
What followed was pure comedic gold. With a composed yet firm manner, Jackman issued a warning, saying:
Listen, mate, you do not want to fight me, all right? If we go, I will break you.
In a heartbeat, Jackman switched into Wolverine mode, yelling “Come on!” as he struck the signature pose and snarled menacingly. Lancelot was shocked by this sudden change and wondered, “What is that? What are you doing?” Eve, playing Guinevere, wittily interjected:
He’s doing his Wolverine thing. It’s better with the claws and no shirt.
One social media post on Instagram perfectly encapsulated the magic of Jackman’s cameo, calling it “An Unexpected Wolverine in a Museum”. This nod to his iconic role as Wolverine, juxtaposed with the comedic setting of a museum exhibit coming to life, highlights the sheer genius of Jackman’s performance.
On the other hand, Cruise also stunned audiences with his unforgettable work as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder. The film boasts an ensemble cast featuring Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey, Bill Hader, and Robert Downey Jr.
The Journey of Tom Cruise’s Les Grossman Film Project?
Behind a fat suit and a bald cap, Tom Cruise delivered one of his best performances ever, playing Les Grossman in Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, showing audiences a side of him they had never seen before.
And, back in 2022, we got news of a possible Les Grossman solo movie hitting the scene (via Deadline). But how did we get here? How did a serious actor like Cruise morph into the outrageous, over-the-top studio executive that is Les Grossman?
According to Esquire, it was Cruise himself who had the “idea” to bring Grossman to life. The character was not originally in the script, but Cruise saw an opportunity to inject some fun and energy into the film by embodying this larger-than-life persona. And boy, did he deliver!
With reports swirling about a potential Les Grossman solo movie, fans are eagerly anticipating what could be in store. Will we get to see more of Grossman’s outrageous antics? Will Cruise once again don the prosthetics and dance his heart out to entertain audiences? The possibilities are endless!
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is streaming on Disney+, while Tropic Thunder is available on FuboTV.
