Hugh Jackman Speaks On The End Of His Run As Wolverine; How LOGAN Came To Be, & DEADPOOL Team-Up Rumors
It's hard to remember a time when Hugh Jackman wasn't Wolverine, but in two weeks time, that'll become our new reality. In the meantime, check out this new profile with Jackman as he talks all things Weapon X.
James Mangold's Logan premiered to rave reviews yesterday at the Berlin International Film Festival, masterfully closing the door on Hugh Jackman's legendary run as Wolverine, but with rumors about a potential team-up swirling, it's hard not to wonder: is this really the end?
“When I had the script, I was like, ‘Yes... And when I was shooting the movie, yes. As I sit here today, yes." Jackman told the New York Times, in a recent profile, before continuing: "God knows how I’ll feel in three years, But right now, absolutely.” Well, it doesn't get more definitive than that.
Jackman has more or less become synonymous with Wolverine over the course of the career, but now that he's closed that chapter of his life, where does he go from here - as an actor? “Let’s be clear — I’m not retiring." he said, before elaborating on how he typically feels after completing a film, any film, not just films from the blockbuster X-Men franchise and how Logan was a different, more cathartic experience: "There’s been a gnawing turmoil that I hadn’t really nailed it, fully — either story or performance or whatever... Every film I’ve ever done, I’ve had that gnawing doubt. But I have it way less in this one.”
As for how the idea for Logan was initially conceived, Jackman recalled a conversation with Chappie director Neill Blomkamp, which essentially got the wheels turning in his head: “I’d had a few wines, I said, ‘I think I’ve only got one more film, if I do it.’ And I just blurted out something. I went home and went to sleep, and I woke up at 4 in the morning, picked up my phone, and recorded a voice memo.” In that aforementioned voice memo, he laid out a rough framework for Logan with a story he hoped could draw inspiration from films like Unforgiven, The Wrestler, and Shane. Jackman also expressed his desire to fully explore Wolverine as “the fallen hero, trying to escape his past, find some peace and deal with disappointment and regret.”
Speaking on the future of Wolverine, Jackman seemed to be at peace with what he's been able to do with the character over the past seventeen years as well as what the character has been able to do for his career, but acknowledged that he knew it would only be a matter of time before another actor stepped into the role: "The character will go on, someone else will play it, for sure." He insisted he would be fine with that whenever it inevitably happens, before adding: "unless Daniel Day-Lewis plays him and wins the Oscar — then I might have a little problem.”
Be sure to check out The New York Times' full profile on Jackman by heading HERE.
In a separate interview with Fandango, Jackman reaffirmed that this will indeed be his last outing: "I'm out" and that he, unfortunately, has no current plans to reprise his iconic role for any special team-up movie with Ryan Reynolds' fan-favorite Merc with a Mouth: "That's probably bad timing because I love Ryan Reynolds and I love Deadpool, but I knew I was out and I couldn't have made this movie if I was questioning if I was out. I was a pain in the ass for a lot of people with this movie because it mattered so much to me. Even when we started writing this, and even when I asked James Mangold to come on board, I said 'Dude, I don't know if I'm gonna make it.' Unless it's exactly what I want, I prefer to not do it. I couldn't live with it. So this is it."
So, what do you guys think? Are you excited to see Logan? Sound off with your thoughts below!
In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border.
But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.
Logan features:
Director: James Mangold
Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine
Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X
Dafne Keen as Laura Kinney/X-23
Boyd Holbrook as Donald Pierce
Richard E. Grant as Zander Rice
Stephen Merchant as Caliban
Eriq La Salle in an undisclosed role
Elise Neal in an undisclosed role
Doris Morgado as Maria
Elizabeth Rodriguez as Gabriela
David Kallaway as Danny Rhodes
Han Soto as Valet
Krzysztof Soszynski as Mohawk
Logan claws his way into theaters March 3