Hugh Jackman, Liar, to Return as Wolverine in Deadpool 3

[Karlston]

The announcement came in the most fun way possible, but seriously—maybe it’s time the actor hung up the claws.

Photograph: 20th Century Fox/Everett

 

The Monitor is a weekly column devoted to everything happening in the WIRED world of culture, from movies to memes, TV to Twitter.

 

Hugh Jackman is a hug(h)e liar. After swearing for literal years that he would never play Wolverine again after 2017’s Logan, the actor announced this week that he would be putting on the adamantium claws once more for Deadpool 3. Fans rejoiced; Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, practically sang him a ballad. It’s cool, but seriously, Jackman, this has got to be the last fake-out.

 

Some backstory: Jackman has been playing Wolverine since 2000’s X-Men. When it comes to matchups between characters and the actors who play them, his performance is almost universally beloved, even when some of the films aren’t. Following Logan—a movie in which the titular character died, mind you—it was presumed Jackman’s run with Wolvy was over. Yet for years, people, including Reynolds himself, would ask whether he would return. Jackman always said “no.” On Wednesday, he finally said “yes.” Well, it was “yeah, sure, Ryan.” But you get the drift.

 

Following the announcement, Reynolds posted another video explaining that Logan is alive in Deadpool 3 because Logan takes place in the future, in 2029. He and Jackman also promised lots of cool action sequences—their descriptions of which were drowned out by the sounds of Wham!’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” (Zing!) It was fun; it was fan catnip!

 

Fakeouts are cool and all, but, and I mean this with all the love in my heart, just let Jackman hang up the claws. Continually calling him out of retirement is exhausting—for fans, probably for Jackman, for everyone. If we must continue to make projects with Wolverine, at least reboot him. Now that Disney has bought Fox, which owned the X-Men, this seems almost destined to happen anyway. Look what Marvel Studios is doing with the Fantastic Four. (Though reboots aren’t always, you know, great.)

 

Also, Jackman’s perfect replacement already exists: Daniel Radcliffe. Rumors that he might take over the role circulate every few years, and he’s shot them down as recently as March, but that doesn’t make him any less perfect. He’s got the chops—both acting and mutton (probably)—and, if the trailers for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story are any indication, he’s got the requisite chest hair too. Obviously, Jackman is the one who needs to cameo in Deadpool 3. But after that, Marvel I’m begging you, let Radcliffe start to Radsnikt.

 

 

 

 

Hugh Jackman, Liar, to Return as Wolverine in Deadpool 3

 

(May require free registration to view)

[Nuclear Fallout]

He HAD no choice.  He was offered soooo much money!