Some actors only get to portray a comic book hero for a couple of years, maybe in two movies, and for some it's just one, while very few ever get to be in a role for over ten years from the character's beginning to the very end: Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Christian Bale as his version of Batman, Chris Evans as Captain America.
However, one man still has the longest tenure of any live-action superhero and that is Hugh Jackman as Logan Howlett AKA Wolverine. Hugh Jackman played the character for seventeen years and everyone loved his portrayal; this leads to many fascinating facts about his run on the character.
15 He Almost Started A Marvel Cinematic Universe
The current MCU got its genesis in the form of Iron Man (2008) but this wasn't the first attempt to create a universe. Hugh Jackman revealed that Wolverine was set to have a cameo in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002) but due to his character's suit mysteriously disappearing, the scene was canceled much to our dismay.
14 Hollywood's Biggest Stars Inspired His Performance
Wolverine is simply a powerhouse character, so it makes sense that Hugh Jackman would be inspired by two powerhouse actors. Jackman's Wolverine is apparently the resulting of a cup of Mel Gibson's Mad Max and a cup of Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry mixed together to create a superhero that even Thanos would be scared of.
13 Wolverine Didn't Know What A Wolverine Was
Logan doesn't really have much in common with the animal he is nicknamed after, but much to the embarrassment of Hugh Jackman, he revealed that for two weeks he studied wolves after getting the part since he had no idea what wolverines were. Wolverine does sound closer to a wolf though... hmm.
12 Hugh Jackman Was Too Tall For Wolverine
A trait that fans gladly ignored because of how great he was in the role was that Hugh Jackman was actually far taller than the comic book counterpart. Hugh Jackman stands at 6'2" while Logan in the comics is a whopping 5'3" thus making him one of the shorter comic book heroes. Maybe this trait will be in a reboot?
11 If You Work With Jackman, You Might Win The Lottery
Hugh Jackman is known for being a nice guy and this is shown through his generous tradition of buying crew members scratch cards. Unfortunately, it is said that very few of these scratch cards ever won anything noteworthy, but at least it's the thought that counts. Let's hope he doesn't gamble.
10 Hugh Jackman Knew Who He Wanted To Play The Character After Him
Hugh was very aware that the character was not going to die with him and inevitably, someone would take on the mantle of Wolverine. His personal choice for his predecessor was fellow Aussie actor Tom Hardy (which would have been amazing) but with Hardy currently occupying the role of Venom, that is unlikely to happen.
9 Hugh Jackman Was A Last Minute Casting
Jackman is a beloved actor now but in 2000, he was only known as the pretty boy from Broadway and romantic comedies. The filmmakers originally approached Russell Crowe for the role, who declined, then the role was set for Dougray Scott until scheduling conflicts caused him to back out. As a last resort, Jackman was signed on and the rest is history!
8 Wolverine Was In The Greatest Showman... Kinda
Hugh Jackman's next big hit after Logan (2017) was the musical The Greatest Showman where the director of Logan, James Mangold, became an executive producer. Fans have discovered that when James Mangold's name appears in the credits, one can spot Wolverine's arms and claws in the corner symbols.
7 He Was In Better Shape Over Ten Years Later!
Jackman was far from weak-looking when he first debuted as Wolverine in 2000 but he practically made it his mission to keep getting more and more in shape with each movie and this was actually best shown thirteen years later in The Wolverine where he was probably in the best shape of his life!
Related: 15 X-Men Characters We Want To See In A Reboot
6 You Can Thank Dwayne Johnson For That!
So how did Hugh Jackman get into such great shape for The Wolverine? Well as it turns out, Jackman was so impressed by Dwayne Johnson's physique at the time that he called up the superstar for help and advice on achieving a superhero-esque body. Using a similar diet and workout, Jackman transformed into the Wolverine!
5 Jackman Went Through Many Claw Sets In The Franchise
Some props get to be reused throughout the films, but in the case of Wolverine's iconic claws, the actor went through thousands of claw sets throughout all the films he appeared in: these ranged from rubber, plastic, and steel ones. Well, props to the prop team for putting up with all that extra work.
Related: 20 Unusual Details Behind Wolverine's Anatomy
4 His Wife Begged Him Not To Do The Role
Superheroes and supervillains are beloved now but this was definitely not the case in the late '90s and the early 2000s. So when Hugh Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness read the original script, she told him it was a terrible and ridiculous idea for his career. Furness couldn't have been any more wrong, could she?
3 We Almost Got The Classic Wolverine Suit
While fans adored Hugh Jackman's run as Wolverine, there was one thing missing: the old school yellow outfit. Not once did he wear it... but he did hold it. In an alternate ending to 2013's The Wolverine, Logan receives the classic suit but this was never brought back. Director Krennic said it best: "We were on the verge of greatness. We were this close."
Related: Here's Why Logan is the Best X-Men Movie So Far
2 Hugh Jackman Wanted To Join The MCU
Nobody can play the same role forever and most fans gladly accepted his choice to end his tenure as Wolverine. That said, Hugh Jackman has been asked by fans if he would come back to the role for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and unfortunately, he stated that he would have if he had been offered it seven years ago. Such a shame...
1 Ryan Reynolds Really Wants Him To Change His Mind
We all love Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and we all love Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. Naturally, we'd love to see these two interact with each other and nobody wants this more than Ryan Reynolds himself! He has teased Jackman time and time again, telling him to return for a crossover. Let's hope his efforts bear fruit!
