11 Reasons Hugh Jackman’s Return as Wolverine is a Bad Idea
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Hugh Jackman is a global superstar. However, it can’t be argued that his portrayal of Wolverine is what rocketed him to A-List stardom. Fellow Australian actor Russell Crowe was the first choice for the role. Scottish actor Dougray Scott was cast but couldn’t get to set on time, so Jackman got the role by default.
Jackman was born to play Wolverine. Jackman portrayed Wolverine nine times out of the 11 X-Men films produced by Fox from 2000 to 2017. Jackman retired his portrayal of the character in 2017’s Logan, considered one of the best superhero films ever made. It’s also considered one of the most epic retirement performances for a character ever produced.
Could Jackman’s legacy as Wolverine become undone? Jackman will return as Wolverine, and as a Wolverine variant, in this summer’s Deadpool and Wolverine. It will be his 10th portrayal of the character. While fans are hyped for his return, is it really a good idea? Here are 11 reasons Jackman’s return as Wolverine is a bad idea.
1. Jackman’s 2nd Retirement Will Not Impress
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Jackman’s retirement of Wolverine in Logan sent shockwaves through the comic book film fandom of 2017. The knowledge that we would never see Jackman’s portrayal of this character again made the nearly flawless film that special. How will fans react when Jackman retires from the character again after being the supporting lead in a Deadpool sequel?
The impact of the original retirement is now lost forever. Jackman’s return as Wolverine is the equivalent of going back to an ex after years of separation; it may seem like a good idea at the moment, but some things are best left in the past.
2. Jackman is Too Old to Return as Wolverine
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Hugh Jackman will turn 56 in October of this year. The actor is known for his intense health and workout regimen and is in great shape. However, his portrayal of Wolverine is physically intensive and may be too much to ask of someone his age. Jackman initially retired the Wolverine role in 2017’s Logan when he was 48. If Deadpool and Wolverine is a hit, it may not be out of the question to imagine Jackman’s return as Wolverine again in the forthcoming Avengers films as he nears his 60s.
3. Tarnishes Logan’s Perfect Ending
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2017’s Logan is a superhero film that created a benchmark for the genre that still hasn’t been surpassed. It’s a tragic, poignant, and action-packed film that masterfully retired Jackman’s portrayal of the character after 17 years of X-Men films. Marvel executive Kevin Feige reportedly advised Jackman not to return as Wolverine. Feige was worried about undoing Logan’s pitch-perfect ending with Jackman’s portrayal of a new version of Wolverine.
The Wolverine in Deadpool and Wolverine will be a new variant and not the one from Logan. Still, the success or failure of Deadpool and Wolverine will reflect on the legacy of Logan in ways that can’t be quantified yet.
4. Wolverine is Reduced to a Costume
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One of the biggest fan gripes of Jackman’s 2000 to 2017 tenure as Wolverine was that the character never wore his iconic and comics-accurate costume. Wolverine wears a garish canary yellow and blue or brown and yellow costume in the comic books. The brown and yellow costume made an appearance in a suitcase in a deleted scene for 2013’s The Wolverine.
Previous directors who worked with Jackman didn’t think it made sense for Wolverine to wear a canary yellow costume in live-action. Fans are overjoyed that the character will wear the yellow and blue costume in Deadpool and Wolverine. However, fans seem to be just as excited for the costume as Jackman’s return as Wolverine.
5. Exchanging Logan’s Gravitas for Deadpool’s Humor
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2017’s Logan was just as much a drama as a superhero film. Fans watched a humbled and defeated Wolverine find the inner strength to be a hero one last time before dying. Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool films are notorious for their crass, gross-out humor and fourth-wall-breaking comedy schtick. This contrast is not made to denigrate Reynolds’ portrayal.
It’s to point out that inserting Wolverine into the wacky world of Deadpool may require the sacrifice of Wolverine’s gravitas. Kind of like watching Ben Affleck’s Batman crack jokes in 2017’s Justice League, Jackman’s return as Wolverine could make us miss the serious version of the character.
6. Fans Are More Hype For Jackman’s Return as Wolverine
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While Ryan Reynolds is insanely popular, he is not Hugh Jackman. Deadpool and Wolverine is Reynolds’ vanity project for a role he was born to play. Still, let’s be honest, people are more amped for Jackman’s return as Wolverine. Would anyone really be this excited about a new Deadpool sequel if Jackman wasn’t involved?
In a similar fashion, fans were more excited for Michael Keaton’s return as Batman in 20223, The Flash than seeing Ezra Miller’s portrayal, a film that bombed. There is now a lot of pressure to see Wolverine excel in a supporting role in a film where Jackman has second billing.
7. The Weight of the MCU is on Jackman’s Shoulders
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Seriously, there is now a lot of pressure on Jackman’s return as Wolverine to succeed. The MCU has lost a lot of popularity and is a shell of its former self. Deadpool and Wolverine is the only MCU film to be released this year along with some Fox Spider-Man universe films. Whether fair or not, Jackman’s return as Wolverine will be judged as a gauge of the MCU’s continued viability as a Holywood powerhouse. Jackman’s performance will not be judged on its own merits like in 2017’s Logan. It also says a lot about the current state of the MCU when Disney is willing to undo the legacy of Logan by hiring Jackman again.
8. It Will Take Longer to Cast a New Wolverine
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Can you imagine a new Tony Stark being cast right now in an MCU reboot? While it would be an exciting development, it could also polarize fans. RDJ was born to play Iron Man and his portrayal was so signature that the character’s death in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame still resonates now. It will take time to reboot the MCU and seriously recast the role. Jackman’s return as Wolverine parallels the same issue. Jackman is synonymous with the role, and his return will make it harder for fans to let go and accept a new actor.
9. Jackman’s Return as Wolverine Could Be Extended
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If Deadpool and Wolverine is a hit, then Jackman could return as Wolverine a few more times. The next Avengers film could drop in 2026 or 2027, but the dates have been pushed back several times already. Jackman will almost be 60 by that time. If Deadpool and Wolverine is a blockbuster, then it could be financially impractical for Disney not to try to bring him back a few more times. That will be great only if Disney has ideas for Wolverine that surpass the perfect ending of Logan. If not, then what is the point? As of now, Jackman is being brought back to play second banana to Deadpool; is that a great reason to bring back Wolverine?
10. Jackman Has Been Typecast in the Role Long Enough
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Jackman could portray a variation of Old Man Logan in future appearances. There are lots of Marvel stories about older and cynical versions of Wolverine that Jackman could portray. Yet, the point is that Jackman already did that perfectly in Logan. Jackman has been typecast in the role long enough and should be trying new things.
11. Hyper-extends the Fox-Era X-Men in an MCU Age
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With the success of the animated X-Men ‘97, it’s a wonder Disney did not brainstorm introducing a new mutant character that was not involved in the Fox-era of X-Men films. X-Men ‘97 is widely praised for not being Wolverine-centric and focusing on the wider world of X-Men characters. Disney tried the same strategy in live-action with middling results. Patrick Stewart reprised his role as Prox. X in 2022’s Multiverse of Madness. Kelsey Grammar reprised his role as Beast in a cameo in 2023’s The Marvels.
Jackman’s return as Wolverine could mean that all of the Fox-era X-Men actors could return and extend their roles. Whether or not this is a bad thing and if Disney would be better served starting fresh with a new cast in the future instead of blurring the Fox-era X-Men into the MCU is for you to decide.
Jackman’s Return as Wolverine May Not Satisfy All Fans
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To get the best Wolverine comic book experience, check out the Wolverine: Weapon X trade paperback. It tells the story of how Wolverine got his adamantium-bonded skeleton. There is more to the lore of Wolverine than just the Jackman performances.
Hugh Jackman is a living Hollywood legend who deserves all of his hard-earned success. However, his return as Wolverine is a huge creative gamble that could have unknown consequences whether a hit or a flop.
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
