Hollywood is a strange place, my friends, where even the most definitive ‘goodbyes’ are not quite final.
Let’s talk about Wolverine, or more specifically, Hugh Jackman’s iconic portrayal of the clawed mutant. If you recall, Jackman hung up his adamantium claws in 2017’s ‘Logan,’ a film that not only saw his character meet his end, but also landed its director, James Mangold, an Oscar nomination.
But, plot twist! It seems ‘Logan’ wasn’t the last we’d see of Jackman’s Wolverine, after all.
Jackman is all set to don the iconic yellow-and-blue Wolverine suit in the upcoming ‘Deadpool 3,’ slated for release in May 2024. This was confirmed in a ‘first look’ shared by Jackman and his co-star, Ryan Reynolds, on Instagram.
Interestingly, this version of Wolverine seems to be different from the one we’ve come to know in previous ‘X-Men’ movies, as Jackman’s Wolverine never sported the classic comic book costume before.
MORE: Not Hugh Jackman but THIS Actor Was The First Choice to Play Wolverine in The X-Men
James Mangold, who directed ‘The Wolverine’ and ‘Logan,’ has expressed his thoughts about Wolverine’s reappearance, and they’re not entirely filled with joy. Mangold acknowledged the inevitability of the franchise’s continuation, stating, “There was always going to be another Wolverine… As much liquid as they can squeeze out of that rag, they’re going to try to.”
Despite his resignation, Mangold did express a small regret, adding, “I can’t say that there’s a part of me that doesn’t wish that we’d let it be.” But in the end, he’s content knowing he ended his journey with the character on his terms. “I don’t measure my success on a movie like ‘Logan’ with whether we ended the conversation. I ended my conversation.”
‘Deadpool 3’ is currently in production under the direction of Shawn Levy, known for his work on ‘Free Guy’ and the Netflix biggie ‘The Adam Project.’ As for the plot, well, the details remain pretty much under wraps. What we do know is that it will mark Deadpool’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, after a series of solo films produced under Fox.
Now, here’s where I’d like to add my two cents. It’s a bit ironic to see Mangold express regret over Wolverine’s return while he’s busy promoting ‘Indiana Jones 5.’ I mean, isn’t that franchise, too, guilty of squeezing as much juice out of its story as possible? They’re even digitally de-aging Harrison Ford, who is in his 80s now, just to keep the Indiana Jones cash cow mooing.
So, while I understand where Mangold is coming from, let’s not forget that the entertainment industry, at its core, is a business. And in business, if something sells, it gets produced, no matter how many times it’s been done before. If audiences are willing to pay to see more of Wolverine or Indiana Jones, then that’s what they’ll get. In the end, it all boils down to the simple economics of supply and demand.
