2017 brings not only a new X-Men live-action TV series in the form of FX’s Legion (a TV show that stands apart from the X-Men cinematic universe), but also the third Wolverine spinoff movie in the form of Logan. The latter is something of a bittersweet occasion for longtime X-Men fans, in the sense that it’s both the first R-Rated Wolverine movie and it introduces such fan-favorite X-Men characters as Laura Kinney aka. X-23 (Dafne Keen) to the big screen - but is also intended to serve as a sendoff to Hugh Jackman’s seventeen years of having played the adamantium-clawed Logan in live-action form. (Unless Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds manages to change Jackman’s mind about his “retirement”, anyway.)
20th Century Fox has now formally begun the next stage of its marketing push for Logan too, having lifted the embargo on reports about this past December’s 40-minute preview of the film to the press. The brand-new theatrical trailer for the movie has also been unveiled; though, as it frequently the case with R-Rated tentpoles, there’s both a green band, all-audiences approved version and a red band, mature audiences only version of the second Logan trailer available.
The second red band trailer for Logan is now online and can be watched, above. By and large, this is the same preview as that second Logan trailer that’s intended for general theatrical audiences, save for the addition of two moments - wherein both Wolverine and the now-90 year old Charles Xavier aka. Professor X (Patrick Stewart) drop some f-bombs, taking advantage of the film’s R-Rated temperament in the process.
For those unfamiliar, here is the official synopsis for Logan:
Although Logan is just an adaptation of Mark Millar’s acclaimed Old Man Logan comic book story in spirit and some surface level details only (see, for example, Wolverine’s greying, grizzled appearance), the movie is similar to Old Man Logan in the sense that it’s a piece of storytelling intended for mature audiences. Last year’s Deadpool was the film that ushered in what could become a new era of R-Rated X-Men movies; but unlike director Tim Miller’s approach on that irreverent action/comedy, director James Mangold’s intention with Logan is to deliver a rich character drama that just happens to be about Marvel comic book characters who possess super-powers and/or metal claws.
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.
Hence, the idea is that Logan isn’t adding on foul langue and extra bloody violence just for the sake of being “edgy”, but for thematic purposes and to make the film’s world of X-Men characters feel all the more grounded and authentic. Mangold and Logan screenwriter David James Kelly have even incorporated an unusual meta-narrative element into the proceedings here by having X-Men comic books exist in the Logan universe, as part of their effort to further make Wolverine’s experiences and world feel more “real” than ever they have. If they prove successful in these efforts, then Logan could prove to be as special as superhero movie fans everywhere are hoping it will be.
Source: 20th Century Fox
- Wolverine 3 Release Date: 2017-03-03
