When Hugh Jackman finally steps down from his X-Men role, he thinks Tom Hardy could be the next Wolverine.
Outside of maybe Patrick Stewart as Professor X, no X-Men casting decision was more inspired than making Hugh Jackman the Wolverine. He just perfectly embodies everything fans love about the antihero Canuck, and was the only character who didn’t require a First Class reboot. Still, recent statements to the contrary Jackman can’t keep playing Wolverine forever, and plans to retire him after a final 2017 film. But Fox won’t stop making X-Men movies if it can help it – so who will take over? Jackman himself has one idea: Tom Hardy, last seen wiping the floor with crazed bikers in Mad Max: Fury Road.
“I haven’t really given it a lot of thought, Jackman said. “I’ve been asked that question a lot, and I’m always like, ‘I don’t wanna make it too easy on the studio to replace me,’ you know? I’ve still got one more to do. I’m sure they’re already talking about it, and there’s some actor [they’ve told] ‘shh, keep it quiet but we want you next.'”
But when pressed further, Jackman did offer a name. “He’s younger than me for sure,” Jackman said, “I think Tom Hardy would be a great Wolverine.”
I can’t say Jackman is wrong. In Fury Road alone, Hardy proved excellent in action scenes while offering a great performance through minimal dialogue. He’s even comfortable with comic book source material – he played as Bane in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises, and is attached to the big screen adaptation of 100 Bullets. Once that project is finished, who knows? He might just be available for a superhero role.
Regardless, whoever takes on Wolverine has pretty big claws to fill. Even when Jackman appears in non-mutant movies, we can’t help but make Wolverine comparisons. (I still maintain his healing factor means a bunch of dead Jackmans start rising after The Prestige.) But Hardy absolutely has the acting chops and presence to make it work.
Do you agree with Jackman that Tom Hardy should be Wolverine? Or do you have ideas of your own? Share your thoughts in the comments!
