Feige recalls treating the 'Logan' star to dinner after a disappointing reading as the Australian actor was considered 'too tall' to play the character for the 'X-Men' movie.
- July 8, 2024
AceShowbiz - In 2000, Hugh Jackman's casting as Wolverine in "X-Men" was a major event. However, the path to his role was tumultuous. Dougray Scott was originally cast in the part, but Scott had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict with "Mission: Impossible 2". This led to a mad scramble to find a replacement.
Kevin Feige, then an assistant to Lauren Shuler Donner, recalled their desperation. "There was a scramble to get our Wolverine," Feige said. "Lauren was very excited about this Australian guy, who had been rejected initially. In my memory, one of the main reasons was that he was too tall. Wolverine in the comics is called 'Lil' Fireplugs' sometimes. He's a short guy. But they were desperate."
Despite initial concerns about Jackman's height, Feige arranged for him to audition. After a disappointing reading, Feige treated Jackman to dinner before driving him to the airport. "I'll never forget it. That was the nicest thing. I thought, I'll never see him again," he shared.
Despite Feige's kindness, Jackman believed he had lost the part. However, their paths would cross again years later. In 2023, "Deadpool & Wolverine" was announced, reuniting Jackman with Feige and Marvel Studios. "The notion that, all these years later, we're in a world where [Jackman] is Wolverine, and Deadpool and all of those X-Men characters are together under the same roof, is a pretty amazing quarter-of-a-century experience," he gushed.
However, Feige had initially advised Jackman against returning as Wolverine. He praised Jackman's iconic performance in "Logan" and urged him to preserve its impact.
To overcome this hurdle, Feige revealed that the Wolverine in "Deadpool & Wolverine" is an alternative version from a different timeline. This allows Jackman to explore new facets of the character without contradicting the events of "Logan".
The upcoming film promises to explore unexplored sides of Wolverine and will have a twist involving the TVA, according to Feige. Kevin McFayden's Paradox TVA agent might not be as benevolent as they initially appear.
"Deadpool & Wolverine" is set for release on July 26 and is expected to be a major box office success. The return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and the unique plotline have generated widespread anticipation, especially after Marvel's rocky 2023.
