Hugh Jackman talks WOLVERINE sequels and inevitable recasting

When you think of comic book movies, it’s hard to imagine other actors as iconic characters. Iron Man without Robert Downey Jr? Thor without Chris Hemsworth? Get out of here! But one actor who has surpassed all of his fellow heroes, has to be Hugh Jackman. For 14 years, he’s been the best there is at what he does, and that’s portray the definitive version of Wolverine. But he’s not going to be around forever, and one of these days, he will step down from the role.

Speaking to IGN, Jackman discussed the possibility of his immortal mutant character eventually being recasted. “I’m sure they had the discussion,” Jackman said. “They didn’t mention it to me, obviously!”. And while Jackman may be present in X-Men: Days of Future Past with two generations of X-Men actors, he knows that his time as the Canadian berserker is counting down to the end:

Look, that’s inevitable, man. Anyone who thinks they’re indispensable in this business is fooling themselves. But I feel unbelievably blessed to have this part. I never thought in a million years I’d get to play him seven times. Every day I walk on the set with the claws and the hair, I thank my lucky stars. I don’t take any of it for granted. To think that in a second version we’d have this cast and this director, and you guys don’t know the script, but I would say probably the best script of all of them, is pretty amazing. I think that’s why I’m still here. I’m sure by the way, that it won’t always be my decision to always be here. At some point, someone will close the door on me… [Laughs]

When exactly though, is another question. Jackman has at least one more Wolverine movie that he’s keen on doing if he can get director James Mangold back on track, and by now Fox is most likely more than happy to have him in the role for as long as he wants it.

And that’ something that his fellow filmmakers agree on, as producer Lauren Shuler Donner declared that she’d “cry” if Jackman ever decided to leave.

Because I love him, I want to work with him! I don’t know! I’m hoping that day won’t come, we keep talking about other stories to spin, and of course he wants to do other movies and theater and he wants to take time to be a dad. So far, I think it’s not on the horizon, but I’m sure it will be one day.

For me, Jackman will always be the ultimate Wolverine, and will leave some massive adamantium implants behind for whoever one days takes over from him.

Last Updated: March 5, 2014