Fans were surprised and delighted when Hugh Jackman revealed that he would be returning to the role of Logan/Wolverine in the upcoming team up film Deadpool & Wolverine.
As it turns out, Jackman’s team was surprised as well. The actor revealed in a recent interview with Fandango that he committed to starring opposite Ryan Reynolds even before talking to his agent.
Jackman said he thought he was done playing the superhero after his character was killed off in 2017’s Logan. However, Reynolds pitched him the idea of bringing Deadpool and Wolverine together, and he couldn’t resist putting on the claws again.
“I was on my way, I was just driving, and literally, just like a bolt of lightning, came this knowing deep in my gut that I wanted to do this film with Ryan. For Deapdool and Wolverine to come back together. I swear to you, When I said I was done, I really thought I was done.”
He continued:
“But in the back of my head, ever since I saw Deadpool 1, I was like, ‘Those two characters together.’ I knew it, I knew the fans wanted it ever since I put on the claws, people talked about these two. So, that had always been there, but I just knew.”
Jackman recalled the moment he arrived home, “I rang Ryan. And I just said, ‘Let’s do it.’ Like, I hadn’t rung my agent, no one. I had to ring my agent and said, ‘Oh, by the way, I have just committed to a movie.’”
Marvel boss Kevin Feige was not initially on board with the idea of Jackman returning as Wolverine and recounted his exchange with the actor in an interview with Empire.
“I said, ‘Let me give you a piece of advice, Hugh. Don’t come back,’” Feige said. “‘You had the greatest ending in history with Logan. That’s not something we should undo.’”
Despite initial hesitation, Feige luckily had a change of heart and liked the idea that Jackman would not be playing the version of Logan and Wolverine from the previous X-Men films.
Only two months left until we get to see the movie we’ve all been waiting for! Deadpool & Wolverine is set to hit theaters on July 26th.