The Wolverine of our generation: Hugh Jackman, began his tenure with a role that would elevate him from the obscurity of television badlands into the smack-dab center of the Hollywood industry. Within 5 years of his career taking flight in Australia, the actor had earned the role of the Adamantium-clawed mutant superhero in the 2000 film, X-Men. This film would then go on to become the first and foremost story in the multiple-chapter saga of the convoluted Foxverse narrative.
But once all the glamor wears off, the skeletal structure standing in front of the green screen is comprised of an actor who looks and talks the part of the superhero he is meant to play. But in an era that is now run by technological innovation and mastery over visual effects, how much of the actor standing in front of the green screen armed with tracking spots can be claimed as real?
Hugh Jackman Becomes the Subject of Steroid Controversy
The Aussie actor has claimed the hearts and minds of comic book lovers and CBM franchise enthusiasts all over the world. And this extends not merely to the Wolverine actor’s part in the expansive 17-year arc spanning 9 films, three of which were solo films helmed by Hugh Jackman. However, since he first appeared in the Bryan Singer movie, Jackman’s physique has altered beyond recognition, and his last appearance in Logan defies human capacity for a body to look this shredded considering the actor had already been toeing 50 at the time of filming.
Consequently, the Aussie has naturally been dragged into the center of the now unfolding narrative around actors using steroids to appear naturally jacked on-screen and gain a certain physicality that is drastically defined by bulging muscle mass and impossible vascularity. In an interview with HBO’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace, Jackman claimed that he had been made “anecdotally” aware of the side effects caused by intake of steroids and that although, “I love my job. And I love Wolverine… I don’t love it that much.” He insisted that his physique had been the consistent result of 17 years of devoted workout regimen and eating chicken – a lot of it.
The Steroid Debate Gets Heated as Twitter Brawl Breaks Out
Ever since Joe Rogan publicly vilified The Rock and asked him to come clean to the public, especially since millions look up to him and consider him a role model, people have turned their heads to look around at other unsuspecting agents who resemble the former DCU actor enough to be put onboard the building debate. Mentioning actors like Hugh Jackman and Chris Hemsworth was only a matter of time, but now that it has happened, the Twitterati are pushing back against the slander against one of the most beloved actors of this generation.
He doesn't need roids to get that build, the couple of money shots all get filmed on the same day, when he's severely dehydrated, that's where the vascularity comes from. Otherwise, he's just lean. Not bloated or shredded.
— Greg Gimmigoul, Owner of the Gimsgale Gimmigoul (@SoxDem7) January 10, 2023
I’m not saying that cause he looks good, I’m saying that cause he looks BETTER than he did in his genetic prime. His physique is attainable actually to maybe 1% of people in their prime. Steroid use isn’t just to become massive, it can be used as an accelerant
— Eric (@EricKouz) January 10, 2023
Yeah, if you want that extreme chiseled muscle definition, you gotta be dehydrated and a little bit starving.
It’s one thing to have enormous muscles, but for most people it’s under a little layer of fat. If you watch strongman competitions they kinda just look fat
— gefilthyfish (@gefilthyfish69) January 10, 2023
If you believe any of these super heroes that say “they don’t take steroids” to get their physiques, ESPECIALLY at Jackman’s age, you need to reevaluate what a realistic male body looks like.
It only furthers the already bad harmful body image issues for men. https://t.co/OvcK4OomdA
— CanWeGetSomeToast (@CanWeGetToast) January 9, 2023
That physique is achievable lol.
He’s not seriously bulked up, there’s no giant masses of muscle, but rather finely toned muscle. Taking 17 years to look like that last photo is far more likely naturally than taking a year to look like Thor or Bane. pic.twitter.com/Z3KgMRerP0
— J (got bagged at 1k) (@jazonignited120) January 9, 2023
Nah he ain’t on steroids. There are tell-tale signs someone did 🥤 and he doesn’t exhibit them.
Bad news is people could get to this point if they wanted and were equipped. But then I always go back to the Rob M quote from Always Sunny to be realistic
— John Hansbrough (@john_hansbro) January 10, 2023
The debate inclines strongly toward the public’s awareness surrounding Hugh Jackman’s physicality at an age that is well past his genetic prime. Couple with the fact that as an audience, one only gets to witness the actor in shirtless scenes displaying vascularity and muscle definition in one movie premiering in 3-4 year intervals, the shift in appearance suddenly appears drastic.
However, the fact that this physique is also naturally achievable with extreme routine and a strict regimen escapes our understanding, especially since it seems inhumane to consider that 36-hour water deprivation and no-carb-after-7 rule can actually affect an already genetically-endowed person within a decade.
Deadpool 3 is set to premiere on November 8, 2024.
Source: Variety
