Hugh Jackman has been a key ingredient in The X-Men franchise since 2000, but he recently announced that his Wolverine days are near an end. The Australian has cast a long shadow over the franchise, and has been front and centre in almost every X-Men sequel and two solo Wolverine movies, but after the third arrives in 2017 Jackman will call it a day.
"It just felt like it was the right time to do it. And let’s be honest, 17 years. I never thought it would last, so I’m so grateful to the fans for the opportunity of playing him… I kind of have in my head what we’re going to do in this last one. It just feels like this is the perfect way to go out."So what do we know about the untitled Wolverine 3? Well information on this particular project is sketchy at best but Patrick Stewart will be involved, reprising his Charles Xavier / Professor X role, and it's said that the film will not be taking place in any of the time zones we have already witnessed.
Jackman may or may not dropped a huge hint at San Diego Comic-Con .
"I’ve got three words for you guys: Old Man Logan."Was he referring to himself? Now he's slightly older in the role, or is it a reference to an adaptation of "Old Man Logan", an eight-issue storyline by writer Mark Millar and artist Steve McNiven, published by Marvel Comics in 2008 - 2009.
The premise of Old Man Logan is that the world's supervillains have got together, eradicate all those known goody two shoes superheroes, conquered America and divided it up between them.
No one knows what happened on the night the heroes fell. All we know is that they disappeared and evil triumphed and the bad guys have been calling the shots ever since. What happened to Wolverine is the biggest mystery of them all. Some say they hurt him like no one ever hurt before. Others say he just grew tired of all the fighting and retired to a simpler life. Either way he hasn't raised his voice or popped his claws in fifty years. His old friends would barely recognize him now.Parts of that could potentially echo Jackman's feeling towards the Wolverine - has he simply become tired of the fighting? Longing to move on to alternative acting adventures? Although perhaps the star should avoid any future roles that include singing! I know actors love to consider themselves "versatile" but I shan't be sitting down to watch him croon in Les Misérables again anytime soon. To be fair, apart from that and the dreadfully lame Australia he hasn't made too many iffy films. A recent high point was Prisoners, with Jake Gyllenhaal, my favourite film of 2013.
Of course, it wasn't too long ago Jackman was rumoured as a possible candidate for the Bond franchise, and even recently he said he'd "seriously consider" the role. But even if Daniel Craig sticks to his word, turns in his gun and lippy snarl to appear in "Mrs Doubtfire - The Musical" (and who wouldn't want to see Bond clutching a vacuum cleaner whilst dressed as Nora Batty and singing Dude Looks Like A Lady?) I feel it's unlikely the producers of the 007 series will be calling Jackman this time around (plus we all remember what happened to the last Australian in that role).
But is it the right decision to say goodbye to Wolverine? Well the actor seems to think so, but on a personal note I think it's a shame. I'm sure he's got more than just this one last outing in him, and I'm already in a state of turmoil wondering if the franchise will simply go into mothballs, or if the producers are already considering alternatives in the role. Jackman said of a replacement
"I’m sure they’re [the studio] already talking about it.This recommendation has legs because Hardy is fast becoming Hollywood's hot potato, giving a series of solid performances in the Mad Max reboot, The Dark Knight Rises, Bronson and of course Legend where he played both the Kray twins.
Tom Hardy would be my pick, he's younger than me for sure – I think Tom Hardy would be a great Wolverine."
Critics and Cinema goers seem to like Mr Hardy a great deal, and as his profile continues to boil it's not exactly hard visualising him with a set of Adamantium claws and a rather large quirky bouffant. I'm sure the 'Laydeez' will also relish a look at the Hardy bod, which makes any normal male feel inadequate.
Could Tom Hardy be the next Wolverine? (via)
Jackman's own profile is still incredibly high. He remains solid box office, an A-lister in a universe of would be stars and wannabes (not wallabys) and he may yet be persuaded to carry on.
"I said to my wife, 'The moral is that I should never stop playing Wolverine. I've got to find a way to keep playing him until I die.' I know that someday they'll recast the role with another actor…I'd be happy if the role was eventually recast. It would mean that it had become iconic."So the will he/won't he debate may go on for a while longer, but if Jackman should move on he has made his mark on The X-Men franchise, and not just by shredding stuff with those massive claws.
Script Writer, Poet, Blogger and junk television specialist. Half English, half Irish and half Alsatian, Tom is well known for insisting on being called Demetri for reasons best known to himself. A former film abuser and telly addict who shamefully skulks around his home town of Canterbury after dark dressed as Julie Andrews. Follow Tom on Twitter
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