Hugh Jackman first jumped into the role of Wolverine in 2000’s X-Men, slicing his way into the fan’s hearts and becoming the face of mutant mayhem. Thus naturally his retirement in 2017’s Logan left fans clawing for more. As Jackman delved deeper into the world of Wolverine and X-Men comics, he realized he wasn’t done with the character just yet.
And in the blink of an eye, the actor was suddenly ready to take those claws out again. And just like that, Wolverine was back in action, and this time paired with Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool. However, he had one demand while returning back in that suit.
Hugh Jackman’s Sole Condition for Returning as Wolverine on Screen
In a recent interview with Variety magazine, the charismatic Deadpool & Wolverine duo, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman alongside director Shawn Levy, tackled a question that had fans eagerly awaiting their response, Did Jackman ever feel the itch to revisit his iconic role post-Logan? What motivated his surprising decision to consider a return? Jackman explained,
I didn’t miss it for a long time. And then, literally, it came to me one day as I was driving down to the beach. I knew I wanted to do this. I literally stopped the car, got out and called Ryan. He said, “Are you serious?” I said, “I’m serious.” And I hung up the phone. I thought I should probably call my agent. I had zero reservations about returning, but I was really happy with “Logan.” I said to these guys, “We’ve got to make a good reason for it to exist.”
He was prepared to make a comeback only under the condition that there was a compelling enough story to tell. And as fate would have it, Deadpool & Wolverine emerged as the perfect vehicle to return to the big screen.
This highly anticipated film not only promises to fulfill long-standing fan hopes and dreams but also is set to revolutionize the superhero genre. Its unapologetically boundary-pushing, completely NSFW R-rated antics are undoubtedly the ultimate reason for resurrecting from the dead.
Hugh Jackman’s Epic Nearly-25-Year Journey with Wolverine!
Wolverine is a unique character and has certainly been a game-changer for Hugh Jackman’s career. Instantly becoming a fan favorite, this character has untapped potential that fans are eagerly hoping to see in Deadpool & Wolverine. Reflecting on his almost 25-year journey with the character, Jackman acknowledges Wolverine’s appeal goes beyond his appearance and toughness, it’s his humanity that resonates deeply with fans.
Appearing on The Official Marvel Podcast, Jackman admits it took time for him to grasp the character’s gravity and impact. Initially unaware of the emotional connection fans had with Wolverine, Jackman now embraces the role with gratitude, approaching it in a more human way. He explained,
I don’t think I understood what it meant to the wider world. I wasn’t a big comic book fan, in particular, growing up. I had never heard of X-Men. In some ways, I’m really glad I didn’t know. Because I really approached Logan as I would any other character. Yes, he had claws coming out of him, and yes, he could heal himself. Yeah, he had crazy hair. But, for me, it’s just another character to embody with all the human-ness of him.
Ultimately, the actor’s lack of prior knowledge about the entire X-Men lore turned out to be a blessing, allowing him to approach Wolverine with a unique perspective. This fresh take avoided putting the character on a pedestal and instead revealed a lesser-known side of Logan that delighted fans. Now, as he prepares to return, fans are eagerly anticipating what Hugh Jackman has in store for them next.
Deadpool & Wolverine hits the theaters on 26 July, 2024.
