With the news that Disney could soon buy FOX’s movie and television division, many Marvel Cinematic Universe fans were wondering if that could mean the possibility of Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine.
Sadly that’s not the case, as Jackman revealed in an interview today:
“It’s interesting because for the whole 17 years I kept thinking that would be so great, like I would love to see, particularly, Iron Man and the Hulk and Wolverine together. And every time I saw an Avengers movie I could just see Wolverine in the middle of all of them like punching them all on the head. But it was like, ‘Oh well, that’s not gonna happen,’ and it was interesting just when I first saw that headline — it was just the possibility of it and who knows what’s gonna happen, obviously — I was like, ‘Hang on!’ But I think, unfortunately, the ship has sailed for me, but for someone else I would like to see Wolverine in there.”
While it may be disappointing that the actor won’t be returning as Wolverine, it still might provide some clarity that the actor himself isn’t interested in coming back.
Jackman played the role for 17 years, and it all began with this X-Men audition from 2000:
I think it’s safe to say that the actor came a long way from that audition, though Jackman said he did have one regret over his tenure as the character:
“I wish I’d started playing him like that (Logan) 17 years ago. So there’s some sense of missed opportunity, but when I saw ‘Logan,’ I sat there and I did have tears in my eyes. The main feeling I had was: There, that’s the character. I feel like I’ve done it now. And I was calm and at peace, but I’m going to miss that guy.”
While Logan was the perfect send-off for Jackman, it’s still interesting to wonder what could have been if he’d been able to join the MCU back in the day.