Why DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Should Not Be Hugh Jackman’s Final Film as Wolverine

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As a dedicated comic book fan who has witnessed the evolution of Wolverine over the years, I can confidently say that Hugh Jackman is, without a shadow of a doubt, the perfect embodiment of our favorite mutant. With his grizzled charm and unparalleled acting chops, Jackman brings a depth and authenticity to the role that is truly second to none.

Deadpool & Wolverine didn’t reveal whether or not Hugh Jackman will return to the MCU on a more permanent basis. But should he? Could this be the start of a whole new era for him as Logan? There’s a great case for him to put away his adamantium claws for good, but there’s an equally compelling case for him not to. So we’re making both. In this piece, Eric Diaz argues why Deadpool & Wolverine should be Jackman’s official return to playing the iconic character long term. Meanwhile, Michael Walsh made the case for why this should be Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine swan song.

The announcement of Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine came as a major surprise, given his public retirement from the character following the release of Logan. In this film, his iconic character made a selfless sacrifice to save his daughter Laura. Fast forward seven years, and Jackman is thrilled to get back into the action, ready to slice through some villains with his claws in Deadpool & Wolverine, which has already grossed over a billion dollars at the box office. While this film serves as a fitting farewell, we suspect that Jackman isn’t planning on hanging up his claws anytime soon – and perhaps that’s for the best.

After Hugh Jackman retired from portraying the character in Logan, he had spent nearly two decades playing this role across nine films. He appeared as the lead in the original X-Men trilogy, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, and X-Men: Days of Future Past. Additionally, he made a Weapon X cameo in Apocalypse and had a colorful, curse-filled cameo in X-Men: First Class. It’s no wonder Hugh felt ready to retire the claws. However, a series of events may have eventually convinced him otherwise. One key factor was the opportunity to act alongside other Marvel superheroes, something Jackman has often expressed interest in publicly.

ever since the publicity tour for “The Wolverine” in 2013, Jackman expressed his desire to be part of the Avengers. At that point, it seemed almost unachievable. However, even back then, Jackman appeared self-assured that the powers that be would eventually let the Fox Marvel characters and the Marvel Studios characters play together in the same sandbox. It turns out that Jackman had a bit of prophetic vision, as Disney purchased Fox in 2018. Regrettably, this happened just a year after he hung up his Wolverine suit. We can’t help but wonder if he regrets the timing of his decision to retire.

It’s worth mentioning that Hugh Jackman has been the sole live-action actor to portray Wolverine, with exceptions such as Troye Sivan in X-Men Origins (though that performance isn’t typically counted). Compared to the multiple actors who have played Spider-Man, Hulk, Superman, Batman, and even three sets of the Fantastic Four, Jackman has stood alone as the one and only Wolverine. With his return, it seems he aims to hold the record for the actor with the longest tenure as a single superhero. Frankly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else embodying the role as well as him at this point.

Advancing age is typically seen as a barrier for playing a superhero over an extended period. However, considering Wolverine’s rough demeanor and “grumpy old man” persona, Jackman growing older could actually make him more authentic to the character. His finest portrayal of Logan was in James Mangold’s “Logan,” where he was aged slightly. This indicates that a more rugged, older Wolverine resonates well with audiences. At 55, Jackman has the ability to continue playing the role convincingly for another decade. However, he might need to tone down his intense physical fitness routine a bit.

We’re quite certain that both Jackman (and Ryan Reynolds) will appear in “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars”. However, it remains to be seen what happens after that. Marvel has confirmed an X-Men reboot in the upcoming years, which likely means new actors taking on the roles of Professor X’s students. We speculate that Jackman might continue his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But the question arises, how could this be possible? The team dynamics would need to alter significantly. For instance, if Cyclops and Jean Grey are younger, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Logan to be in a love triangle with them. Also, he wouldn’t be their contemporary, given his age compared to Storm and Beast.

It’s quite possible that Kevin Feige could draw on comic book sources again, as he often does. In the TV series “Wolverine and the X-Men,” after the demise of Charles Xavier and Jean Grey, Wolverine assumes the role of Headmaster at the School for Gifted Youngsters. Previously known as someone who doesn’t get along with others, he now becomes a guiding figure for a new crop of mutants. This concept could be adapted in the MCU. Imagine if Wolverine enters the Sacred Timeline right when mutants are starting to manifest their powers. To make up for his past mistakes, he decides to help nurture the budding mutants of the 616 universe. Some of these mutants might even be acquaintances from a past life.

It’s our belief that when Hugh Jackman decided to retire from his role as Wolverine in 2017, he was genuinely sincere about it. However, his recent decision to return has him fully committed to this character for the foreseeable future. This commitment extends beyond the clash between Deadpool and Wolverine, and even beyond Avengers: Secret Wars, delving into the X-Men’s future within the MCU. In the comics, Logan often says, “I’m the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t pretty.” Over time, it has become evident that Jackman truly excels in portraying Logan. It’s hard to imagine anyone else stepping into those claws anytime soon, so we expect Hugh Jackman to continue as the one and only Wolverine for quite some time.

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2024-08-15 20:33