Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine can still be used in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but after the latest X-Men movie update, I don’t believe it will be in the reboot of the mutant franchise. If there is one character who has become the face of the X-Men in live-action, it is Jackman. After debuting in 2000, Jackman has led several X-Men movies.

That includes a Wolverine movie trilogy, which featured the first meeting between Wolverine and Wade Wilson onscreen. Thankfully, one of the MCU’s best movies had a better fate in mind for those characters. After the controversial X-Men Origins: Wolverine destroyed Ryan Reynolds’ character, comics-accurate versions of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Jackman’s Wolverine finally teamed up 15 years later in their MCU debut.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine is the MCU’s first R-rated movie, breaking multiple records for the franchise. The Marvel film is now the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time with $1.3 billion (via Box Office Mojo). Based on the movie’s success, Jackman’s return in future MCU movies seemed like a safe bet. However, a new update makes his Wolverine future more complicated.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Left The Door Open For Hugh Jackman’s MCU Return

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool And Wolverine Were Last Seen Together In The MCU

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine played with the fans’ emotions. The movie pretended that Jackman’s Wolverine and Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool would sacrifice their lives to stop Cᴀssandra Nova. However, thanks to the two mutants’ incredibly effective healing factors, the MCU heroes did not die. Interestingly, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine also did not have them join the MCU’s main Earth, even though that was teased.

Early in the film, Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool tried to join the Avengers, but he was turned down by Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan. At the end of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, the heroes were back in Wade Wilson’s universe, enjoying the company of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s friends at a dinner in his apartment. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Wolverine were together, but not in the MCU.

Given how Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool was always going to come back for more in the MCU, the fact that Jackman’s Wolverine was last seen still with him left the door open for the character to come back. While the duo were not part of Avengers: Doomsday‘s announced cast — Channing Tatum’s Gambit from ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine was — more actors are being kept secret.

Kevin Feige’s Latest MCU X-Men Movie Reveal Seems To Rule Out Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine

Marvel Studios’ X-Men Reboot Just Had Major Details Revealed

While I was excited about Hugh Jackman’s MCU future after ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, with the actor possibly sticking around for the X-Men reboot, the hopes of seeing that happen have since dwindled. That is due to the MCU X-Men movie’s latest update. First, after months of speculation, it has finally been confirmed that Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier will helm the project.

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That confirmation came during a conversation with journalists in which Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige clarified many details about the MCU’s future. Regarding the MCU X-Men movie that will be released after the Multiverse Saga concludes with Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027, Feige revealed it will be a “very youth-oriented, focused and cast movie.” That makes Jackman’s Wolverine appearance unlikely.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine joked about how Jackman could keep playing Wolverine until he was 90. While the actor could realistically continue as Logan for the next decade, at 56, Hugh Jackman does not fit Marvel’s decision to go for a younger cast for its X-Men reboot. Feige’s comments seem to point at a different plan if Wolverine were to appear.

Why Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Not Being In The MCU X-Men Movie Makes Sense

Marvel Studios Have Already Introduced The Perfect Replacement For Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine

While I would love to see Jackman stay in the MCU after the Multiverse Saga and get a solid decade of team-ups with the new X-Men, the Avengers, and more heroes, I understand if that is not Marvel’s plan. After the final Fox X-Men movies disappointed, it makes more sense for the MCU to go for a full reboot.

Jackman’s Wolverine might be one of the most beloved live-action heroes in superhero movie history. However, if Marvel were to add him to the MCU X-Men reboot, it would lead to the baggage of the Fox X-Men movies being forever linked to the new franchise. Keeping Jackman, a Fox X-Men actor, and recasting all the roles around him would feel off.

Besides, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine set up the perfect way for the MCU to not even have to use Logan in Marvel’s first X-Men movie. That is due to how the R-rated movie brought back Dafne Keen’s X-23. With the Laura actress being only 20, X-23 could stay on in the MCU for the next two decades, following in Jackman’s footsteps.

I’m Still Convinced Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Will Return In The MCU

The Multiverse Saga Still Has Some Time Left

Based on Kevin Feige’s new MCU X-Men update, I don’t believe Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will be in it. Either Marvel will use Dafne Keen’s X-23, who was also last seen with Jackman and Ryan Reynolds’ Marvel heroes in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, or the studio will cast a new actor as Logan. However, that does not mean Jackman is done at Marvel.

During the same roundtable with members of the press, Feige also talked about Reynolds and Jackman’s MCU future. Feige revealed that Marvel is keeping in touch with Reynolds about ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s future, also teasing that Jackman will keep “doing it till he’s 90.” Previously, it was reported that Reynolds was writing a ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and X-Men crossover movie.

Jackman’s Wolverine return would be fitting for the project, which could also include characters like Cable, Domino, Colossus, Gambit, X-23, and more from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool franchise. There is also the chance that Jackman’s Wolverine could be in at least one, if not both, of the MCU’s upcoming Avengers movies. While seemingly not in the X-Men movie, Jackman’s Wolverine should return.