Apart from the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy franchises, Marvel is also known for its X-Men movies. And whenever we speak of X-Men, the one character that strikes us first is Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Being an integral part of the film series, the actor turned into a fan-favorite character over decades.
However, while his appearance in the X-Men movies made it all the more interesting to watch, Hugh Jackman revealed disappointing information about his first X-Men movie. Speaking with Collider, the actor mentioned how the 2000 film was highly edited and shortened before hitting the theatres.
Also read: Marvel’s X-Men Reportedly Eyeing One Villain That James Mangold Deliberately Left Out In Logan
Hugh Jackman Recalled his First X-Men Movie
Hugh Jackman has landed several acclaimed projects over his decades-long career in Hollywood. But, among all, the actor is best known for his role as the mutant Wolverine, in Marvel’s X-Men movies. Appearing for an interview with Collider while promoting his 2021 sci-fi thriller Reminiscence, Jackman noted inside information about his first X-Men movie.
Recalling his 2000 movie, when Hugh Jackman first took up the role of a mutant superhero in the Marvel Universe, the actor mentioned how the movie was initially 100 minutes long. Sharing the disappointing information with fans about how his movie was edited weeks before it hit the theatres, Jackman recalled being shocked himself.
“I’m probably speaking out of school, Steve. But a week before it came out, I think it was 47 minutes longer. I may be exaggerating or under exaggerating… It was a lot. And maybe the week is an exaggeration, but I certainly… What we shot on, I remember going, “What happened to that scene and that character/ what? Wait, whoa.” That movie from memory is about 100 minutes, I think.”
The actor noted how the initial version of the film was a lot longer than what fans got to witness.
Also read: Is James Mangold Still Bitter Marvel Brought Back Hugh Jackman after ‘Logan’?
Hugh Jackman was Unsure of His Career After X-Men
Following his disappointing inside information about X-Men (2000), Hugh Jackman was advised by his Reminiscence movie’s writer/director Lisa Joy to release the full cut of X-Men. To which the interviewer responded that it might not be the right thing to do. Addressing how back then people weren’t quite as fond of superhero movies as they are now, the interviewer asked Jackman’s opinion about releasing the full version.
Agreeing that the initial version of the X-Men “was a lot longer, a lot longer, so that was definitely a big surprise” to him, Hugh Jackman noted that it might not be a great idea to release the full cut. Siding with the interviewer, the actor noted that the fanbase for superhero movies was indeed different than now. Jackman backed up his statement by sharing how he was unsure of his career after shooting X-Men.
“I remember people who I knew in Hollywood…two or three other people who were in the know, were like, ‘Dude. Make sure you got another job. The word on the street is they’re seeing it as a dud. And it’s okay. At the moment, you’re a lead in a movie in Hollywood, right? Don’t tell them it’s a comic book. That means nothing. Just say you’re a lead in the movie, and you’re at least going to get auditions, and then try and book something before it comes out, and they’ll give you one more shot.’ I remember getting that advice.”
Discussing how people weren’t serious about superhero flicks back in 2000, Hugh Jackman implied that releasing the full version might not have been the best idea. Especially since people almost advised him to go for other auditions before the movie hit the theatres, just to have a backup plan, in case X-Men didn’t hit it off well.
