Now that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is almost out in the world, early screenings start today; one of the big questions fans have is: will Hugh Jackman stay on board as Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Both Jackman and Marvel’s Kevin Feige have been mostly open about it, with answers like, “Sure, who knows?” and “Maybe, anything’s possible,” and at the end of the film… well, you’ll know soon enough. Suffice it to say, it does seem possible.
But in a recent Discussing Film interview, the Marvel chief said there would be no “immediate plans” to recast Wolverine, but he did admit recasting would be in the cards at some point.
“As comic readers know, there have been various and very, very different versions of these characters over the decades. It would be fun to explore different ones someday down the line,” he said. “Again, we don’t have immediate plans by any means. But in the decades to come, I think it’s inevitable. If that happens, it would have to be a very different and bold reinterpretation of [the character] because no one will be as great as Hugh Jackman at doing his version of Wolverine.”
If you’re optimistic, this could mean what’s been rumored already: Jackman sticks around until “Avengers: Secret Wars,” and then the MCU may reset after that once they bring a true and new “X-Men” movie to the screen. Feige alluded as much in reiterating that a new Wolverine would eventually come to the screen.
“So, for sure, there will be [eventually another actor as Wolverine],” he continued. “I think it will be in a very different style and in a different way. I also think if somebody were to attempt to do a Hugh Jackman as Wolverine impression, that would be a pretty big mistake.”
This also rings pretty true: Marvel always likes to differentiate from past versions, skipping the origin story of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, etc., choosing villains we hadn’t seen in previous Sony films, etc. etc.
Meanwhile, “Deadpool & Wolverine” technically hits theaters tomorrow but is previewing across the country in most theaters today via Disney and Marvel.