By now, Hugh Jackman fully embodies Wolverine on the big screen. Hes played the Marvel antihero seven times, including in The Wolverine and the forthcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past more than any other actor has performed as one superhero. However, he admits now that he got off to a rough start as the gruff member of the X-Men.
Jackman recently shared a very embarrassing story with MTV News regarding his first go as Wolverine in 2000s X-Men. Jackman had arrived in Toronto three weeks before filming without a clue about actual wolverines. Not knowing what a wolverine was, that it was actually a real animal, I was going past the IMAX, and I saw this. . . IMAX showing of wolves, Jackman said. I was like, oh, [it must be] a wolf sort of thing, so I went in there, and thats where I had this whole [thing of facing down], like wolves smelling the ground while Im looking.
Summer Movie Preview 2013: The Wolverine
Jackman wanted to give an animalistic edge to the role with his wolf-inspired behavior, but X-Men director Bryan Singer wasnt a fan. [Singer] at one point said to me, Its a little weird physically. But its interesting,' Jackman said. And I said, Yeah, man, Ive been studying wolves and I think if we could bring that to the screen- and he goes, What? Youre not a wolf, man, youre a wolverine.'
Jackman was confused. I said, Yeah, but obviously theres no wolverine,' he said. And [Singer] goes, No, thats actually an animal. Its small. . . and [theres] really no point in studying its habits and movements its a more metaphoric idea.'
The Wolverine opens tomorrow. X-Men: Days of Future Past is set for a May 23rd, 2014 release.