Even since before filming began on Logan, Hugh Jackman has made it clear, that film would be his final outing as Wolverine. Logan was the third standalone Wolverine film in the X-Men film series and is known for its darker and more mature tone compared to previous X-Men films.
Hugh Jackman first brought the character of Wolverine to life in the 2000 film X-Men. It was a role that would define his career and endear him to fans worldwide. Over the course of several X-Men films, Jackman delved deep into the character’s psyche, giving us a Wolverine who was fearsome and compassionate, tormented and heroic. But it was in Logan that he had the opportunity to take Wolverine to new heights as he already made up his mind to retire that character after the movie.
Hugh Jackman Was Concerned about His Final Outing as Wolverine in Logan
For nearly two decades, Hugh Jackman donned the adamantium claws and gruff attitude that defined the character. Yet, it was in the 2017 film Logan that he truly transcended his own legacy as the clawed mutant, delivering a performance that can only be described as his magnum opus in the X-Men franchise.
The actor in an interview with BBC, told that he was happy to sign off the character with Logan.
“I was very clear this was the last one when we were making it,” he said. “I don’t think I could’ve made this movie unless I knew that”.
“This was the version of the movie I wanted to make – and I was surprised the studio said yes – because I felt deep down we hadn’t fully cracked it.”
“And I don’t think I was fully OK with it until I saw it, because even though I had a good feeling, you never know until you see the final product if it’s something you know you can sleep with for the rest of your life.”
Hugh Jackman’s performance in Logan received widespread critical acclaim, and the film itself was a commercial and critical success. Many fans and critics consider it to be one of the best entries in the X-Men film series and one of the standout superhero films of its time.
What Convinced Hugh Jackman to Return as Wolverine?
The actor, who previously said 2017’s Logan would be the last time we saw him in the role changed his mind and decided to reprise his iconic role of Wolverine once more in Deadpool 3, saying the decision had “been brewing for a long time“.
Jackman spoke to Variety and explained what made him change his decision:
“I went to a screening of Deadpool. I was 20 minutes in, and I was like, ‘Ah, damn it!’ All I kept seeing in my head was 48 Hrs. with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy. So it’s been brewing for a long time. It just took me longer to get here” he said.
After Logan, the actor really believed he was done portraying the role. However, after years of people asking him to take on the role again, Jackman was ultimately intrigued when he realized how interesting it would be to explore the relationship between Deadpool and Wolverine. He said in an interview with CNN–
“I really thought I was done. Like, I was at peace with it. I got asked every day, either in interviews, or Ryan Reynolds ringing me, ‘Can we do it again?’ I’m like, ‘No, I’m done.’ Someone said to me, I think it was Deb, she’s my wife, she said, ‘You know, after this, what is it you really wanna do?’ And I was just driving down a day later and I thought, ‘What do I want?’ And it came to me like that, because when I keep thinking of me and Ryan and Deadpool and Wolverine, which are classic comic book rivals, there’s also a dynamic that I’ve never really got to do before as Wolverine.”
It will be an exciting moment for fans to see Wolverine and Deadpool sharing the screen.
Deadpool 3 is set for release on November 8, 2024.
