Maisie Scott
- Marvel Studios is reportedly considering actors in their 20s to take over the Wolverine role after Avengers: Secret Wars, though the new Logan may not appear in the upcoming X-Men reboot.
- That new Wolverine won’t be a part of that production, though, since the upcoming X-Men relaunch will reportedly have only a handful of recast characters.
- A younger actor might let Marvel build a Wolverine more like the one we see in the comics, with a new look, personality, and dynamic with the next generation of X-Men.
Marvel Studios is reportedly considering actors in their 20s to take over the Wolverine role after Avengers: Secret Wars, though the new Logan may not appear in the upcoming X-Men reboot.
According to reports, Marvel Studios is ready to begin its search for a replacement actor to play Wolverine in the MCU after Avengers: Secret Wars. Recent sources suggest the company is already in talks with potential candidates and that it is focused on finding a substantially younger actor who can play Logan for decades.
But the purported casting plans don’t necessarily mean Hugh Jackman’s leaving the MCU anytime soon. Rumor has it the studio wants to keep Jackman as Wolverine beyond Avengers: Secret Wars while introducing a younger version of the character for the franchise's future. This distinction might let Marvel keep Jackman’s performance intact while slowly introducing a new take on the legendary mutant.
That new Wolverine won’t be a part of that production, though, since the upcoming X-Men relaunch will reportedly have only a handful of recast characters.
If the rumors hold, Marvel is seeking someone in their 20s, someone ready to play the role for the long haul. Given Wolverine's centrality to the X-Men series, the studio might be looking for someone who can carry the part across numerous films and possibly decades of MCU storyline. Marvel Studios faces a big challenge in replacing Jackman.
The actor has played Wolverine for almost 20 years, and he's become synonymous with the character thanks to some X-Men sequels and his recent comeback in Deadpool & Wolverine. Recasting established comic book characters isn't new for Marvel, either. The franchise has already cast James McAvoy as Professor X and Michael Fassbender as Magneto, both of whom eventually won much acclaim from moviegoers despite early parallels to their predecessors.
This is the same thing we’ve seen with Batman, who has been played by many different actors in different movies. Some audiences may oppose major casting changes at first, but if the performances are strong enough, they can accept a new actor in a familiar role. It also allows Marvel to explore an alternative take on Logan. Jackman's performance is famous, but it's still tied to the Fox X-Men movies and that particular take on the character.
A younger actor might let Marvel build a Wolverine more like the one we see in the comics, with a new look, personality, and dynamic with the next generation of X-Men.
It'd make a good story too. Introducing a younger Logan, along with younger versions of the established X-Men characters, might help the franchise keep the same cast together for its next ventures.
For now, Marvel Studios hasn’t publicly announced a successor for Hugh Jackman. However, if these allegations are correct, the search for the MCU's next Wolverine could be one of the most important casting decisions the studio makes after Avengers: Secret Wars.
