After 17 years, Hugh Jackman is hanging up the claws. He participated in two X-Men trilogies and his own Wolverine trilogy which concludes with Logan, the first (and last) R-rated story for the Aussie superstar.
I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with Jackman in 2012 while he was shooting second unit action scenes in the middle of the night for The Wolverine in Australia, and in our chats, the idea of “Old Man Logan” came up and Hugh smiled, said we were on to something, and joked that he’ll do one more. And all of that came true.
Logan is the movie Jackman wanted to make more than anything. It’s the highlight of his X-Men career, and is easily something he and director/co-writer James Mangold can be proud of as an end point given that it’s the highest-rated movie in the franchise by far. Logan is something special and we can easily understand the following words from Jackman when he was interviewed by our Wolverine super fan contest winner Sean Harrigan…
What would you say has been your biggest highlight as your time as Wolverine? What was the best part of it?
How about that?
Hugh Jackman: Doing this movie. This feels the most personal for me. I feel like I don’t think I could have made this movie three or four years ago. I think it’s part of my evolution I suppose of growing up, understanding the character, feeling confidence in who I am and where I am in this business. I had such a clear vision. I actually did a memo at four o’clock in the morning. I was out with Neill Blomkamp having dinner and we had a few drinks and he said, “Man, if you could do anything as Logan, what would it be?” And I was, “Blah, blah blah”. At four in the morning I woke up and said, “I’m going to record this.” I just found out that I recorded that memo March 2nd, 2015 – which would be the day this comes out, two years later.
Are you seeing Logan in theaters? Want Hugh Jackman to change his mind and come back for more? Share your thoughts on Jackman’s Wolverine career!
Hugh Jackman: Yeah, so it’s really very close that. It feels very personal. This is the highlight for me.
More: Hugh Jackman Supports Wolverine Recasting
In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.
James Mangold directs Logan from a screenplay by Michael Green and Scott Frank & James Mangold and astory by David James Kelly and James Mangold. Logan is produced by: Hutch Parker, Simon Kinberg, Lauren Shuler Donner, and stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, and Dafne Keen.
- Wolverine 3 Release Date: 2017-03-03
