The recent cinema outing of Deadpool & Wolverine featuring Henry Cavill garnered widespread acclaim. However, Marvel Studios overlooked a critical opportunity to enhance this pivotal scene and address a pressing issue regarding Wolverine’s casting within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Hugh Jackman, who famously hung up the claws after his stellar performance in 2017’s Logan, made a surprising return as James “Logan”Howlett in the 2024 release of Deadpool & Wolverine. Teaming up with Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, Jackman’s involvement helped elevate the film to become one of Marvel Studios’ highest-grossing entries, albeit introducing certain complications.
The film established the 20th Century Fox’s X-Men universe as an alternate dimension within the MCU multiverse, referred to as Earth-10005. This setting paves the way for the crossover of these iconic antiheroes with the MCU’s main narrative. Capitalizing on the recent exploration of the multiverse, Deadpool & Wolverine introduced a variety of Wolverine iterations, including the likes of Old Man Logan and Patch, yet one of the variants revealed how others could have been cast, indicating a missed opportunity by Marvel.
Hugh Jackman Portrayed Seven Wolverine Variants in Deadpool & Wolverine
Only One Wolverine Variant Was Portrayed by Someone Other Than Hugh Jackman
Despite parts of Deadpool & Wolverine unfolding in Earth-10005, Jackman did not reprise his role as the Wolverine from that universe; instead, he returned primarily as the infamous “Worst Wolverine,”a variant infamous for his inaction during a catastrophic massacre of his X-Men family. This allowed Jackman to engage in several different Wolverine personas during the film, amounting to a total of seven variations he portrayed, with the exception of one.
|
Wolverine Variant |
Actor |
Comic Debut |
|---|---|---|
|
Worst Wolverine |
Hugh Jackman |
N/A |
|
Short Wolverine |
Hugh Jackman |
The Incredible Hulk #180 |
|
Age of Apocalypse Wolverine |
Hugh Jackman |
Age of Apocalypse |
|
Patch |
Hugh Jackman |
Marvel Comics Presents #10 |
|
Cavillrine |
Henry Cavill |
N/A |
|
Old Man Logan |
Hugh Jackman |
Wolverine (Vol. 3) #66 |
|
Crucified Wolverine |
Hugh Jackman |
Uncanny X-Men #251 |
|
Brown Suit Wolverine |
Hugh Jackman |
The Incredible Hulk #340 |
The single Wolverine variant not portrayed by Jackman was played by none other than Henry Cavill, who made a surprising cameo as the character. This marked Cavill as the third actor to embody Wolverine in live-action, following Jackman and Troye Sivan’s brief appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Jackman’s pervasive involvement with most Wolverine variants may complicate future recasting efforts for the character within the MCU.
Additional Actors Could Have Followed Henry Cavill’s Example in Deadpool & Wolverine
Wolverine’s Variants Need Not All Have Been Portrayed by Hugh Jackman
Jackman’s association with Wolverine has firmly cemented his legacy over the past 25 years; however, Cavill’s brief yet impactful display as Wolverine opened the door for additional casting possibilities. It was indeed a missed chance for Marvel Studios to further diversify Wolverine variants through different actors, akin to the array of performers portraying Deadpool variants within the Deadpool franchise.
The MCU has established that while some alternate universe characters may mirror their Earth-616 counterparts, many offer stark contrasts. Just as Benedict Cumberbatch showcased various iterations of Doctor Strange, Spider-Man: No Way Home thrilled audiences with diverse Spider-Men. Consequently, introducing new actors to portray Wolverine variants, even in cameo roles akin to Cavill’s, could have catered to fan expectations while enhancing the film’s appeal.
Potential Actors for Wolverine Variants Alongside Jackman and Cavill
Marvel Could Have Validated Some of the Top Wolverine Fan-Casts
While Jackman continues to reprise his iconic role, the pressing anticipation of a new actor taking on Wolverine for the MCU’s forthcoming X-Men reboot has sparked myriad fan-casting theories. Notable figures like Daniel Radcliffe as Patch and Tom Hardy as Wolverine have surfaced, spurring excitement among fans.
Jackman himself has voiced his hopes for Tom Hardy to succeed him as Wolverine, further emphasizing the lost chance in Deadpool & Wolverine to showcase Hardy’s potential as the clawed hero. Additionally, other notable actors like Taron Egerton, Keanu Reeves, and Karl Urban could have brilliantly represented Wolverine variants, which could ease the transition for recasting Wolverine in the MCU.
Marvel Has Complicated the Recasting Process for Wolverine Within the MCU
Hugh Jackman Is Unlikely to Reprise the MCU’s Official Wolverine Role
Despite recent discussions speculating Jackman’s long-term return as Wolverine, he himself has suggested it’s improbable that he will reprise the character extensively in the future. Given the grueling physical demands of embodying Wolverine, and at 56 years old, Jackman may find it increasingly challenging to portray an action-driven character. With Deadpool & Wolverine presenting an opportunity for the MCU to introduce a new Wolverine, the studio potentially made the recasting process significantly more arduous.
Since Jackman first emerged as Wolverine in the 2000 launch of X-Men, he has established an impressive legacy, featuring in 11 films across the franchise. From X2: X-Men United to Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, his portrayal remains synonymous with the character.
However, the portrayal of numerous Wolverine variants by Jackman raises concerns regarding future casting for the MCU. Fans now face a dilemma, as it seems the official Wolverine for the MCU must resemble Jackman’s likeness. As a result, this complicates future recasting endeavors and may daunt prospective actors that Marvel approaches. Ultimately, the future of Wolverine in the MCU will unfold in its own time.
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