THE WOLVERINE was met with generally positive praise. It has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 69% from critics and 73% from users. And, it is the second highest grossing X-Men film of all time, behind X3. All of this considered, there was a safe assumption that there could possibly be a sequel. I have a few ideas on storylines and villains.
1. Mr. X
A lesser-known foe, Mr. X is a mutant with some psychic abilities. Similar to Jean Grey, his abilities manifested when he conected minds with a girl who was dying after being hit by a car. Getting a "high" off of the feeling he experienced, he became a serial killer. His abilities also allow him to see his oponents next move, letting him stay one step ahead of his enemy. He became obsessed with killing Wolverine, and the only way Wolverine was able to defeat him was to slip into a beserker rage, since he relies on instinct rather than thought.
I believe this story could work in the X-Film Universe because a) After taking out an army of ancient warriors, someone has had to have heard about Wolverine. b) Jackman's Wolverine has been struggling for decades to get rid of his beserker rage, so having to embrace it would be a change of pace. c) It would lead to some really cool fight scenes, maybe even involving Yukio.
2. Return of Victor Creed
I'm sure you all know the backstory, but just a summary, in the X-FIlms, Victor Creed is portrayed as Wolverine's half brother who was much more brutal and more fond of killing than Logan. He also was part of the scheme to get Logan to volunteer for Weapon X.
Notice I said Victor Creed and not Sabretooth. I think we can all agree Schrieber was one of the few good things of ORIGINS, and a cooler villain than Tyler Mane's character. Throughout ORIGINS, Schrieber was never referred to as Sabretooth, nor was Mane called Victor Creed in X1. I think that they should be seperate characters. Open the film with a brief backstory on where Victor's been over the past 40 years. Maybe he hears about what happened in Japan and goes looking for Logan.
3. Omega Red
Russia's attempt at a Super Soldier, Omega Red was given a healing factor, deadly pheromones, and carbonadium tenacles which can drain someone's life force. The carbonadium, however, began to poison him, and he needed to continue to drain life forces in order to live. The only device that could stabilize his condition was the "carbonadium synthesizer," a device stolen by Wolverine and Team X.
On film, this again would give us a fresh villain, and a fan favorite. Logan, still suffering amnesia, could go to Russia with Yukio. His presence is picked up by some government people and reported to Omega Red, or someone who could awake Omega Red. We could also get some flashbacks to a more brutal Team X, and bring back Schreiber, Reynolds, and will.i.am.
4. The Brotherhood
In Greg Rucka's first Wolverine arc, he chose to have Logan's teen neighbor get killed by sex traffickers she had escaped. Before she died, she left Logan with her story and he set out to avenge her and save the other victims.
This would definitely be a darker story than previous ones. I think it would fit in nicely with the whole “soldier” gimmick that Logan and Yukio had, as they again would be fighting for those who can’t. Not only would this be an emotional movie for Logan, because he has so many young ladies that he protects (Rogue, Kitty, Yukio, etc.) but as a young woman, I could see Yukio taking this particular issue very hard. Just put Logan and Yukio in Liam Neeson’s place in “Taken.”
5. Daken
During World War II, Logan was married to a Japanese woman. She became pregnant but her and the child were slaughtered. Decades later, the child is revealed to be alive, and believes Logan to be the one that murdered his mother.
Jackman has always portrayed a very emotional Wolverine. This story would really be a devastating blow to this version of Logan. Some have commented that this would be the only story left given Jackman’s version of Logan. Hopefully this article can change their minds, but I can understand where they’re coming from. Daken could see how Logan and Yukio get along and become jealous.
6. Adamantium Men
In Jason Aaron’s first “Wolverine: Weapon X” arc, Logan is met by Maverick/Agent Zero and told that someone has restarted the Weapon X project. Logan tracks down the new Director to South America, where he discovers a Black Ops team of 12 men who have been given artificial healing factors, Adamantium laced bones, and energy claws. The 12 prove to much for Logan, and he resorts to Rambo-like tactics to escape them. He manages to kill one in a one-on-one fight, but nearly dies in the process. The end is quite clever, I won’t spoil it though.
Again, a fresh villain and story we haven’t seen. Though most of Team X died, have his source be a paralyzed Wraith, or maybe Blob survived. Logan and Yukio versus 12 Wolverine’s would be something to see.
7. Not Dead Yet
Shortly after Logan lost his Adamantium to Magneto, he is hunted down by a former spy he used to work with, and one he thought he killed years ago. This man, named McLeash, has studied Wolverine thoroughly and knows how to kill him, having decades to prepare.
This movie could contain a lot of suspense, intrigue and action. Between the men McLeash sends after the duo, to the final confrontation, to the flashbacks showing Logan’s skills, this would definitely be a thriller.
8. Manifest Destiny
A pure martial arts story, Logan goes to San Fransico to find out he has a decades old rivalry with the Chinese Triad, an ex-girlfriend, and 4 mystical Kung-Fu experts. He even has to be re-trained by his old instructor, and team up with fighters who look as though they walked off a Bruce Lee film.
Again, this was pretty much an action movie on paper. The characters, the plot, the location all scream Martial Arts flick. While it’s not the deepest story character-wise, Wolverine has pretty much been fleshed out enough.
9. Romulus
Romulus was revealed to be behind almost every event in the lives of Wolverine, Sabretooth, and Daken, among others. He was the true director of Weapon X, and the one who stole Daken from his mother’s womb. His powers are similar to Sabretooths, but he has gauntlets with Wolverine-like claws .
Perhaps better at closing a trilogy, every horrible thing that’s happen to Logan from the beginning of ORIGINS until now can be blamed on Romulus. Logan would finally get his revenge, and maybe Jackman is done after this? Also, Daken and Romulus could possibly be in the same film, since their backstories are very intertwined. It could even involve Sabretooth (Schreiber’s).
10. The End
Around 2003, MARVEL published a bunch of miniseries focusing on the last adventure of their most popular heroes. In “Wolverine: The End,” Logan is an elderly, senile man. His hair is white and he suffers from arthritis, even affecting his claws. He travels to Japan after believing Weapon X has returned. There he is attacked by a man with similar powers claiming to be his long lost brother.
While this could be another story to end a saga, it could be rearranged to fit into the current situation. The “brother” story could be just as emotional and action-packed as the Daken arc.
Well, that was a lot. If anyone took the time to read this whole thing, I appreciate it and feel like I owe you something. Tell me what y’all think. Until next time!