Speaking with Total Film, Hugh Jackman dished some solid info about their approach to the sequel to X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, a mostly lackluster entry save for Jackman’s presence, saying that THE WOLVERINE will be vastly different and a “stand-alone” film.
“We’ve deliberately not called it Wolverine 2 because we want it to be placed and feel like a standalone picture. With an all-new cast and setting it in Japan, it’s going to give us a whole new visual aesthetic,” said Jackman, adding, “The approach to character means we won’t be overloaded with mutants and teams and the like, so it’ll be more character-based. I think in many ways it will feel like a completely different X-Men film.”
The concern for making a film that was more about the character of Logan/Wolverine and not another franchise heavy/character-laden marketing ploy, Jackman set his sights on someone he felt could deliver a quality product.
“So we went to Christopher McQuarrie, who was involved in X-Men and The Usual Suspects. He’s a brilliant writer and he came up with a concept that was just phenomenal. I rang Jeffrey and he went ‘Great, now you have a good idea, just go for it.'”
Jackman’s enthusiasm for the character is well known and it doesn’t seem to be waning:
“I’m just really glad it’s happening. For a while it’s felt like a rocky ride. I think it’s the best idea we’ve had, the strongest script we’ve had and that now we really have an opportunity to make something really great,” said Jackman.
“I’ve been waiting for it so long now,” he said. “I think half the material in my one-man show is about the wait for The Wolverine!”
I think Jackman has taken ownership of the character of Wolverine in an admirable and respectable way. He’s involved in every aspect, working hard to bring the clawed mutant to life onscreen with careful attention to fan expectations. He also seems humble enough to recognize what didn’t work with the first film and looks to be taking the steps to remedy that with the sequel. Even if THE WOLVERINE happens to suck, which I highly doubt it will, you can at least count on Jackman to deliver a Wolverine-worthy performance.
THE WOLVERINE is slated to open on July 26, 2013.