When an actor becomes synonymous with a famous character like Hugh Jackman and Wolverine, it is hard to imagine anyone else taking over this role in the future. Having first portrayed the clawed mutant in 2000 in X-Men, Jackman completes a staggering 24 years of association with the superhero when he reprises the part in Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool 3.
While one can safely conclude that the Oscar nominee and his iconic character are a match made in heaven, Jackman was realistic in his assumption that all good things must come to an end. In 2014, when asked about who he thought would be a good fit for Wolverine, he nominated this deceased star as an ideal choice for the role.
Huge Jackman Believed That Heath Ledger Would Make A Good Wolverine
Huge Jackman is well into his 3rd decade as Wolverine and the actor is showing no signs of stopping. Over multiple films, the Logan star has proved that no one but him could have portrayed the mighty clawed mutant to perfection. With Deadpool 3 set to release soon, fans are eagerly awaiting Jackman’s bromance with Ryan Reynolds to take shape on screen.
In 2014, the celebrity sat down with his co-stars from X-Men: Days of Future Past James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender to discuss the X-Men franchise while promoting the film. In a Q&A session during their interview with Yahoo! Movies UK, Jackman was asked a hypothetical question about who he would envision playing Wolverine apart from him. The star was quick with his reply when he said,
“Originally when I played it – when he was alive, god rest his soul – I thought Heath Ledger could be a good young version of [Wolverine].”
Earlier, there were rumors that Daniel Radcliffe could take over as Wolverine following Marvel’s alleged decision to cast a younger actor for the role. While Radcliffe summarily denied these claims, Jackman confessed that it would be strange to see someone else take on a role that he had played for so many years. But he believed that nothing can last forever and stated that he was mentally prepared to hand over the reins when the day arrived.
Why Did Hugh Jackman Apologize To PETA?
There’s a lot of physical effort that goes into preparing for an action role and no one understands that better than Hugh Jackman. The X-Men star went all out to beef up for the part of Wolverine in Deadpool 3 by following a special diet that included 8000 calories a day.
He split this into six meals a day consisting of black bass, Patagonia salmon, two chicken burgers, and two grass-fed sirloins that made up the necessary 8000 calories. While talking about eating tons of chicken, Jackman was also profuse in apologizing to PETA and vegetarians. In an interview that appeared in Variety, he said,
“And I tell you, I’ve eaten more chickens — I’m so sorry to all the vegans and vegetarians and to the chickens of the world. Literally, the karma is not good for me. If the deity has anything related to chickens, I’m in trouble.”
Jackman backed up the diet routine with a rigorous and dedicated exercise regimen that saw the star bulk up like never before. While the X-Men actor has consistently shared his progress with fans online, the fruits of his effort will be seen when he rips his shirt off to show his muscles in Deadpool 3.
