The Wolverine sequel might film back-to-back with X-Men: Apocalypse

James Mangold is planning on shooting the sequel to THE WOLVERINE after X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, but is there a chance his movie will be filmed back-to-back with Bryan Singer's upcoming film? It's possible, according to Hugh Jackman.

While speaking with Collider, Hugh Jackman was asked if filming THE WOLVERINE sequel and X-MEN: APOCALYPSE back-to-back would make things easier for the actor since he needs to stay in shape to play the mutant.

One of the things people don’t realize is that you went from shooting The Wolverine to this [X-Men: Days of Future Past]…

Hugh Jackman: I did Prisoners in between.

But it was pretty close.

Jackman: Pretty close. It was about four months in between.

Is that something you’d want to do in the future, let’s say for X-Men: Apocalypse and another Wolverine sequel? Or is that something where you think that’s too much?

Hugh Jackman: No, in a weird way that has crossed my mind if that’s the way things play out, because physically, even though I was complaining about it because I found out about [X-Men: Days of Future Past] a month before I finished The Wolverine, so I was already planning on my cheat meals. It’s much easier because it’s tough to get there, physically, but once you’re there, it’s easier to maintain it.

It's been said the original trilogy stars won't be back for X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, but it certainly sounds like Wolverine and Hugh Jackman might return for the planned movie. Collider also spoke with producers Lauren Donner and Hutch Parker, and they say they are looking into filming the movies back-to-back.

It seemed what [Jackman] was saying to me was that in an ideal world, X-Men: Apocalypse and another Wolverine solo movie would be, in an ideal world, filmed very close together to keep his physique.  So are you guys planning to film them that way?

Lauren Donner: We’re trying

Hutch Parker: We are.

Donner: We’re absolutely trying, yes.

Is there any target for when you’re going to film Apocalypse or the next Wolverine?

Donner: Well, we announced Apocalypse to come out in 2016, so that means we have to shoot next summer. And then we’d have to shoot our new Wolverine movie either before or after that. I think after because it will come out after.

Parker: And as much as you have an ambition for these things, it is, as you said about Hugh, getting a script that everybody feels is ready and right. Because that is the foundation on which everything is built. So I think the goal will be Apocalypse for 2016, which means at the latest [filming begins] in summer 2015, and then the same thing with Wolverine, either before or after, but based on the script.

It would make perfect sense to film another Wolverine movie and X-MEN: APOCALYPSE back-to-back, however a lot is going to depend on the script for THE WOLVERINE sequel. Hugh Jackman has said a few times he won't do it unless the script is fantastic, and I have my fingers crossed it'll be good enough to convince Jackman to play Wolverine at least one more time. I'm fine with him not appearing in X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, but you kind of need him for THE WOLVERINE sequel, and I really hope X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST won't be the last time we'll see the actor as Wolverine.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST will be in theaters May 23rd, 2014. X-MEN: APOCALYPSE will open on May 27th, 2016, and THE WOLVERINE sequel is scheduled to be released on March 3rd, 2017.