Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in X-Men: Days Of Future Past
Last week, actor Hugh Jackman – who played Wolverine in nine films between 2000’s X-Men and 2017’s Logan – made it clear in no uncertain terms he sees his self-pronounced retirement from the character as permanent.
But despite finishing his time portraying one of the most popular superheroes ever in a critically acclaimed solo movie, there’s still unfinished business for Jackman as Wolverine – as evidenced by Jackman’s own retroactive enthusiasm for the idea of crossing over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, had it happened before he retired.
Though Jackman seems settled and done with the role and ready to move on, there’s a compelling argument to be made for him coming back for one last ride – both to Disney/Marvel Studios, and to Jackman himself (we think fans are already convinced…).
The most basic argument to get Jackman in on the MCU for at least one movie is, it’d be really freakin’ cool. Seeing Wolverine – the Wolverine, in the same way Robert Downey, Jr. is the Iron Man, in the eyes of fans – meet up with the cast of the MCU would be a true Avengers moment. A monumental pop culture moment that would, let’s be honest, probably make the top ten all time superhero movie scenes. If you’re Marvel Studios President/Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige, you’ve got your eye on delivering exactly that experience again and again.
And if the MCU et al has taught us anything, it’s that a bona fide pop culture phenomenon is a guarantee of at least one thing – big fat box office dollars. And again, if you’re Kevin Feige, that’s an ever present target in your sights. Which leads us directly to our next point.
The film industry – and especially physical movie theaters – are gonna need a major shot in the arm once coronavirus has passed in a way that’s safe to get back to the movies. Like we said, a pop culture moment usually translates to big money. Now, this may come across as cynical – we’d love to think Marvel Studios would make the best movie possible with a true story and vision, regardless of context – but the reality is the film is industry is gonna need a post-coronavirus boost, and a substantial one, to kickstart its presence and prevalence in our daily lives.
And that’s where Jackman comes in – he’s still a big honkin’ movie star, a guy that puts the proverbial butts in seats, as they say. His name on a Marvel Studios marquee would be a blowout, to say the least.
If a return seems like an impossibility given Jackman’s comments about retirement, we’ll remind you he’s gone back and forth before, saying he’s retiring and showing back up. Jackman’s previously stated he was on a movie-by-movie contract basis with Fox, so there’s precedent for a negotiation (which might even be happening publicly, right now). Jackman even once said he wanted to play Wolverine “until he dies” – and we’re not asking for his life, just six months of his time on a movie lot.
So here’s the thing – we’ve gotta guess Disney/Marvel’s number crunchers are well aware of the dollar signs Jackman represents, so we’ll appeal, somewhat indulgently, directly to the man himself.
Hugh, you said yourself it’s a cool idea. America, the world, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe agree. We get it, you’re not ready to try and get shredded for a one-off, even in a key role – but we don’t need the shirtless scene. We’ll just take The Best There Is At What He Does – black leather and all – back in action. (And hey, if Marvel Studios really, really wants Hugh jacked, man, they have the tech to make him look younger, older, bigger smaller, a la the younger Wolverine in Logan. Give the man – and his abs – a damn break.)
And speaking of back in action, there’s one other aspect to this whole thing. If they can get Jackman, they can get everyone else back too.
We won’t get too bogged down pointing out all the ways the could bring back Chris Evans, RDJ, Scarlett Johansson – even Josh Brolin (*cough*Secret Wars*cough*). But the possibility of a wider MCU Multiverse – the specific can of worms we’re hoping Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opens – makes this concept eminently possible.
Hell, there’s some small evidence they’re envisioning something similar with Tobey Maguire in that movie, which all signs point to being the next big, bold, MCU gamechanger.
So if we may be so bold… as if we haven’t enough already… we’ll throw out at least one suggestion on how the idea of Jackman in the MCU could play out.
Let him put his money where his mouth is and finally meet up with his tongue-in-cheek frenemy Ryan Reynolds’ character Deadpool, A.K.A. Wolverine’s tongue-in-cheek frenemy Deadpool. Put the last two Fox X-Men characters on a trip from their world to the MCU, let them duke it out (and maybe the rest of the MCU too? Hint, hint) and have Jackman’s Wolverine usher out the old era, and set the stage for a true MCU X-Men introduction, perhaps with a new Wolverine along for the ride.
Jackman’s hinted that’s what it would take to get him back in black (leather).
Maybe it’s crazy. Maybe it’s a longshot. Maybe it’s a fan-fiction fantasy.
But it sounds fun as hell, and we’d pay full price to see it in theaters.