Hugh Jackman holds the record for playing a superhero for the longest amount of time. This is an achievement appreciated by not just him but by every single fan in the world. Wolverine is iconic not just because of his individuality as a character but because of the way Jackman brings him to life. The heartbreak fans faced when the actor announced his retirement from the character was quickly discarded thanks to Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool 3.
The irony that stands, however, is whom Jackman credits his entire career as Wolverine. There are celebrities who are big fans of superhero movies and there are those that are not. Quentin Tarantino is famously one of them. Yet there are also actors and filmmakers like Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood, who have an influence on the world of superheroes without even realizing it.
Hugh Jackman Owes Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson For Wolverine
It is no doubt that powerful acting does not always have to mean impactful dialogue. Sometimes there can be little to no dialogue with some of the most spectacular storytelling as well as acting in the film. John Wick 4 is a great example of the same. However, when it comes to the inspiration Hugh Jackman got, it came from none other than Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson.
“I started watching Dirty Harry and Mad Max. Mad Max, in particular, I think he has 11 lines of dialogue in the whole movie, Mel Gibson, and yet he’s onscreen the entire time.”
Jackman admitted that watching films like Dirty Harry and Mad Max helped him in understanding the power that acting alone holds. He could manifest these qualities in a character such as Wolverine, who is not known to be the best talker. So Gibson and Eastwood became his key foundation for the role, adding to the essence of what Wolverine was to become.
Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood’s Take on Superhero Movies
Mel Gibson has an issue with big-budget films altogether but Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice held a special place in his heart in the worst manner possible. The actor publically talked about how much he disliked the movie.
“I’m not interested in the stuff. Do you know what the difference between real superheroes and comic-book superheroes is? Real superheroes didn’t wear spandex. So I don’t know. Spandex must cost a lot.”
He joked about how ridiculous comic book superheroes look in spandex and the amount of money it takes to make movies like that. However, it is not that barely anyone was fond of the film in the first place. On a completely different note, Richard Donner’s Superman was supposed to be Clint Eastwood instead of Christopher Reeve.
The actor denied the role despite it being offered to him. His vision had been something similar to that of Gibson’s. His reason for denial was that he preferred characters who were more grounded and connected to reality. In theory, it could be said that Superman is perhaps the most connected to reality with what he represents. In a literal sense it is true, grounded is not a term you would use for the soaring Kryptonian.
Source: Far Out Magazine
