Taron Egerton Says He’s Met With Marvel’s Kevin Feige & Hopes To Play Wolverine

As San Diego Comic-Con looms on the horizon, the prospect of Marvel announcing plans for their ambitious Phase 5 approaches. While many are expecting announcements on “Fantastic Four,” or “Deadpool,” many fans are still asking when we’ll hear some movement on the next iteration of “The X-Men,” and who might succeed Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. There has already been a lot of vocal fan support for British actor Taron Egerton to play the MCU’s version of Logan in the upcoming franchise reboot. And apparently, that’s not fantasy-land wishful thinking.

In a New York Times interview this week to promote his Apple TV+ prison drama series “Black Bird,” Egerton revealed he has indeed met with Marvel Studios and studio head Kevin Feige. While it was unclear what the meeting was about specifically, in the interview, Egerton mentioned his “hope” to take up the Wolverine mantle next.

“I don’t think it would be wrong to say that,” Egerton said about his MCU hopes to play Logan. “I’d be excited, but I’d be apprehensive as well because Hugh is so associated with the role that I’d wonder if it’d be very difficult for someone else to do it.” He paused, then flashed a grin. “But hopefully, if it does come around, they’ll give me a shot.”

READ MORE: Daniel Radcliffe Cuts Wolverine Reboot Casting Rumor To Pieces: “There’s Never Been Truth To It”

Interestingly enough, unlike a lot of the fan-cast contenders, Egerton and Jackman are pals of sorts after working together on the sports dramedy “Eddie The Eagle” that was produced by “X-Men: First Class” and “Kingsman” franchise director Matthew Vaughn. Those who have seen “Black Bird” know Egerton can get physically jacked, and his experience with action in the two “Kingsman” films would undoubtedly put him in front of the pack of potential candidates. His height (5’ 9, Wolverine is short) and age (32, Marvel wants a new generation of actors) are also likely good factors for his casting, but who knows at this point.

Egerton had been attached alongside Colin Firth for “Kingsman 3,” and while the progress on that film has been quiet, on the recent Jess Cagle podcast, the actor danced around giving a “Kingsman” update and then relented by saying he’s read a script and expects it to shoot sometime in 2023, though no frame was given.

Shawn Levy’s “Deadpool 3” is expected to be the first big mutant movie from Marvel post-merger. Still, there had been previous indications that their “X-Men” reboot won’t be ready until at least 2025 giving them plenty of time to cast the right actor to play Logan. We’ll just have to wait until later this month for possible updates on the project when Marvel makes their triumphant return to San Diego Comic-Con after a hiatus due to the pandemic.