Hugh Jackman: Wolverine On Clawing His Way Back From Retirement
What made you want to come back as Wolverine for this movie?
“This was something that I had been in the back of my mind for a long time. I knew the fans wanted it, I wanted it so when the chance came for it to happen, I couldn’t wait to get the claws back on. And of course to get to work with Ryan, one of my best friends, and Shawn, another of my best friends, was just a dream come true.”
How would you describe Deadpool & Wolverine?
“It’s basically a classic buddy movie at its core but it’s also much more than that. It’s huge, it’s exciting, it has incredible action but it also has a lot of heart. It’s a movie about friendship.”
Some will remember Logan and how you said after that film that you would never plays Wolverine again...
“That’s true. I did say that and I really did mean it. Logan was such a great movie and it felt like the perfect way to end my time as Wolverine but then something happened a few days after that... Deadpool. I say that first movie and I knew then that I had made a mistake. I knew that we had to get Wolverine and Deadpool together. I spoke to Ryan about it then but it took until 2022 for us to get it together and make it happen. I was busy doing theatre, I was driving and the idea of making this movie was so intense for me that I had to pull-over and phone Ryan. I'm so glad we could make it happen.”
And what about the physical challenge that comes with playing a superhero and all those fight scenes and stunts?
“That’s always a challenge and of course I’m not getting any younger (laughs). But the physical aspect is still something I enjoy. I still like to do as much as I can and, weirdly, I actually feel better now than I did years ago playing this character. Back then I always seemed to be carrying some kind of injury of another. With this I had the time to prepare slowly and to work in the gym to get into the kind of shape I know is required for the job.”
Would you say you are anything like Wolverine?
“Thankfully, no. Maybe I was a little hotheaded like him when I was younger but not now. I also don’t have retractable claws (laughs).”
How are you dealing with the incredible level of expectation that fans have for this movie?
“I don’t think the fans are going to be disappointed. What Shawn and Ryan have done with this movie is just genius. It’s going to blow you away. But the fans have always been a huge part of my 24 years playing Wolverine as I know they have with Deadpool. I feel so lucky to have a very special relationship with the fans. I have met so many over the years and they have always been honest about what they expect, what they like and definitely what they didn't like. From my point of view, what I can say about this film is that anyone who loves Wolverine is going to love this.”
You have had so much success yet you seem so grounded. How have you managed that?
“Just by constantly telling myself how lucky I am to be doing a job I love. I mean, I do moan on sometimes, like when I have to be up at to be on set, stuff like that, but this to me is like playing. You get to being different people and live these fantastic experiences and then, at the end of the day, you can walk away and be yourself again and you get paid for it! How lucky is that? I still pinch myself that I get to do this.”
Logan was such a great movie and it felt like the perfect way to end my time as Wolverine but then something happened a few days after that... Deadpool. I say that first movie and I knew then that I had made a mistake. I knew that we had to get Wolverine and Deadpool together.” — Hugh Jackman
(Asia features)
