James Mangold questions Marvel’s use of Wolverine

James Mangold is bringing out the claws, as he is questioning the necessity of another Wolverine movie and wondering where it will stop.

In a new Variety profile, James Mangold suggested that Marvel and Disney are milking the Wolverine character for all he’s worth. “I can’t say that there’s a part of me that doesn’t wish that we’d let it be…But there was always going to be another Wolverine. There could be a baby Wolverine and a cartoon Wolverine. As much liquid as they can squeeze out of that rag, they’re going to try to.” He added, “I don’t measure my success on a movie like Logan with whether we ended the conversation. I ended my conversation.”

This could be read as a contradiction of sorts, as James Mangold previously came out in support of Hugh Jackman reprising his Wolverine / Logan role for next year’s Deadpool 3, saying earlier this year, “I’m thrilled for him to get a chance to play with it again…Whether one way or another, I knew Logan wouldn’t be the last time we see a Wolverine movie….You can’t put a moratorium on characters.”

And of course in addition to his own Wolverine movie, the Oscar-nominated Logan, James Mangold has been tied to a number of other franchises himself: some continuations of decades-spanning fan favorites and others that are properties some may have never even heard of. While Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny awaits release, Mangold also has a Star Wars standalone and a Swamp Thing movie coming up. On the former, he claims he’s “just doing my own thing with this, just a standalone,” even though it will have clear links to its predecessors as it will go into the “discovery of the Force.” Concerning Swamp Thing, “While I’m sure DC views Swamp Thing as a franchise, I would be viewing it as a very simple, clean, Gothic horror movie about this man/monster.”

You can see Hugh Jackman reprise Wolverine when Deadpool hits theaters on May 3rd, 2024 as part of Phase Five of the MCU.

Do you agree or disagree with James Mangold about the Wolverine character? Let us know in the comments section below!