Ever since Disney acquired Fox in 2019, Marvel fans have been anticipating Marvel Studios’ reboot of the X-Men and their introduction into the MCU.
But with those expectations have come questions, particularly around when the X-Men will arrive and who Marvel Studios will cast as Wolverine.
While the first question is still up for debate, Ryan Reynolds recently answered the second when he revealed Hugh Jackman would be reprising his iconic role as Wolverine for Deadpool 3.
But since Deadpool Threequel is likely a multiversal story, Jackman’s return doesn’t mean he’s the only Wolverine out there. It also doesn’t explain the excitement that Zac Efron was in the running to play the mutant in the MCU.
Now, just days after news of Jackman’s return to the role, Efron has responded to rumors of his own Wolverine casting.
Zac Efron Responds to Wolverine Casting Buzz
When Jimmy Fallon asked Zac Efron on The Tonight Show about the rumors that Marvel Studios was looking for a Zac Efron guy, the actor replied: “Wow, you could just call me.”
Fallon went on to ask Efron if he “ever been approached by Marvel?:”
“Have you ever been approached by Marvel? It was just – I thought it was funny that they said you were a Zac Efron guy, but you – there was a rumor that you would eventually be Wolverine.”
When Efron responded to the request, “For real? Damned.” Fallon assured him “People want that.”
But given the recent Deadpool 3 news, Zac Efron countered by saying: “I think Hugh is still doing pretty well. I have to give it to him.”
However, Jimmy Fallon also had a counter for it, noting that Efron knows Hugh because of her roles in The Greatest Showman and joked about it “He’ll let you do it.”
Efron then admitted “Yeah, I guess I had my foot in the door then. I should talk to him.”
Are Efron and Jackman all in this together?
It’s always interesting when actors discuss Marvel casting rumors on talk shows, as the questions are usually pre-approved.
Whether or not that was the case with that Jimmy Fallon interview is unknown, but it’s worth noting that Efron has never dismissed the rumors or seemed genuinely surprised by them.
Instead, he fended off every question Fallon asked him and seemed extremely cautious about it.
Should he have reacted like this if there was no truth to the rumours? Only time can tell.
However, the role of Wolverine is far from what Marvel fans wanted him to play in the MCU.
Over the years, the High School Musical star has been at the top of the list for Nova, Fantastic Four’s Human Torch and was rumored to be in the running for Adam Warlock, which ultimately went to Will Poulter.
And earlier this year, Zac Efron made his own MCU ambitions known, saying: “when the right character comes along” then he would “Jump at the opportunity.”
While fans will have to wait and see if the actor is actually playing a variant of Wolverine or another MCU hero, Efron’s comments coupled with online hype suggest something has transpired between him and Marvel Studios.
With Phase 5 of the MCU just around the corner while Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman prepare for Deadpool 3, fans will likely learn more about Efron’s Marvel opportunities in the near future.