Hugh Jackman made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Wolverine last year, and there is an easy way for the actor to continue in the franchise and a new version of Logan to emerge at the same time. Jackman’s Wolverine movie appearances started in 2000 with Fox’s X-Men. It is hard to believe that the star was not the first choice for the role. The studio had chosen Batgirl actor Dougray Scott to portray Logan. However, scheduling conflicts led to him dropping out, with Jackman coming at the last minute. The rest is history.
Jackman is now one of the most beloved figures in superhero films. Due to that, I was not surprised by how ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine turned out to be one of the MCU’s best movies and a major box office hit. Despite being 56, I’m convinced that Jackman could still have a great future as Logan in the MCU, and his physique in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine shows the star can still portray Wolverine for at least a few more years. That said, I understand how some fans want the MCU’s X-Men movie to have a new Wolverine, but both could happen.
An MCU X-Men Casting Report Suggests A Younger Team
The Team’s Reboot Movie Is Being Developed
Marvel Studios has been making progress on its reboot film about the mutants from Marvel Comics. The last mainline X-Men movie was 2019’s Dark Phoenix. With the Multiverse Saga ending when 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars comes out, it should not take long after the film for Marvel to release its first live-action movie for the team. Working towards that goal, the MCU’s X-Men movie has already enlisted The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes writer Michael Lesslie to pen its script. It is reportedly female-focused, and a casting report points to an interesting direction for the team.
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According to The InSneider, Marvel Studios is considering Stranger Things star Sadie Sink to play Jean Grey in the MCU’s X-Men movie. I think the casting would make sense, as Sink not only looks like Jean but is one of the rising stars of her generation. That said, the report suggests a younger Wolverine would have to be cast for the team. While Hugh Jackman is 56, Sadie Sink is only 22 years old. Given how the characters have been romantically linked before, and the team should more or less have the same age, a younger Wolverine should be cast.
Hugh Jackman Can Be The MCU’s Old Man Logan
Marvel Can Have Two Different Wolverines
While the X-Men movie casting report suggests a younger Wolverine fits what Marvel is looking for with the mutants, I know how Jackman can keep playing the character. There could be two versions of Wolverine at the same time in the MCU. A younger actor could debut as Logan in the MCU’s X-Men movie, while Hugh Jackman’s version of the character from ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine continues to play a role in crossovers, as well as alongside Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool as the Old Man Logan version of Wolverine. In the comics, Wolverine and Old Man Logan have interacted and fought together.
Jackman has already shown how he could excel as Old Man Logan in the MCU. After all, the actor has already played two different versions of the character before. 2017’s Logan was loosely based on that Marvel Comics story, with Jackman giving life to an older, disillusioned, and weaker Wolverine who tried to save Dafne Keen’s Laura. In ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, one of the multiverse Wolverine variants played by Jackman was a more faithful take on Old Man Logan. The MCU could go for a middle ground for the two, with Jackman as a veteran Wolverine for big events and a younger Logan for the X-Men.
Why The MCU Can’t Let Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Retire Just Yet
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Was The Start Of A New Journey
I think that having two Wolverines is the best possible scenario for the MCU. This way, the franchise could start anew with the X-Men, bearing no connections to Fox’s version of the franchise, while also continuing to use Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in exciting ways. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine showed the potential that Jackman still has in the MCU as Wolverine. The movie became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, with ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine giving Marvel Studios its first film to gross over $1 billion since Spider-Man: No Way Home did so in 2021.
Before he joined the MCU, Jackman was vocal about how he wanted to interact with the Avengers. With two team movies coming up, I’m convinced we will see Jackman as Wolverine in at least Avengers: Secret Wars, if not both films. I can’t see how those continued appearances would make fans’ desire to see Jackman carry on as Wolverine in the MCU wane in any way. With so many possible crossovers and stories now that he is in the MCU, I hope Marvel explores all that Jackman’s Wolverine still has to offer, and the X-Men can have a younger Logan.
All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies
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Captain America: Brave New World
- Release Date
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February 14, 2025
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027