When Hugh Jackman announced his return to the role of Wolverine for Deadpool 3, it came as a surprise to fans after the 2017 film Logan was aggressively marketed as Jackman’s final appearance as a Marvel superhero. But while some might have feared it would cheapen the James Mangold film’s conclusive ending, Jackman made sure the finale of his most iconic role would remain intact.
“It’s all because of this device that they have in the Marvel world to move through timelines,” Jackman said in a recent interview with Jess Cagle and Julia Cunningham for their SiriusXM radio show (via Variety). “Now we can go back because it’s science. So I don’t have to mess with the ‘Logan’ timeline, which was important to me. And I’m probably thinking of the fans too.”
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Though Jackman didn’t elaborate, his response suggests he’ll likely be playing either a younger version of the character previously seen in Fox’s “X-Men” movies, or an alternate reality version of the character a completely different timeline. In Deadpool 3 (which will reportedly go into production in May), Jackman will be teaming with Ryan Reynolds as the titular character after the two starred in 2009’s negatively-received X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Since then, Reynolds has starred in two “Deadpool” films, which brought the character closer to the Marvel Comics version and proved to be box office successes. The third Deadpool film, the first since Disney acquired Fox, will integrate the character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe; Considering the antihero is famous for his ability to break the fourth wall, expect the film to poke fun at both the franchise’s muddled continuity and Jackman’s earlier “retirement” from the role.
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In a video released in September after Jackman announced his return, Reynolds confirmed that the film would not alter the events of “Logan,” noting that the film is a distant sequel set in the Future Plays: “’Logan’ takes place in 2029. Completely different thing. Logan died in “Logan”. Do not touch.”
Mangold, who is directing the forthcoming fifth Indiana Jones movie, similarly reassured fans, tweeting that “Logan” will always be able to stand on his own.
“Oh my god! Everybody chilling”, Mangold wrote. “‘Logan’ will always be there. Multiverse or prequel, time warp or wormhole, canon or non-canon or even no reason, I can’t wait to see what madness my dear friends Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman cook up!”
Deadpool 3 is slated to hit theaters on November 8, 2024. Watch a clip from Jackman’s interview with SiriusXM below.
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