First look: Prequel gets its claws into Wolverine





By Scott Bowles, USA TODAY
As if a guy with temper issues, iron blades for fingernails and a penchant for cage fighting needed it, Wolverine is about to get even surlier.
"I know it seems odd given, you know, the guy is already half animal," says Hugh Jackman, who revives the character in Wolverine, due in theaters May 1, 2009. "But with all the success of the X-Men, you feel the pressure to keep pushing it further."

Jackman, also a producer on the film, says he never expected the story of mutants trying to fit in "to catch on the way it did." (Since the first film hit screens in 2000, the X-Men franchise has taken in more than $1.1 billion worldwide.) "But I became a fan of Wolverine like everyone else. That's why I keep holding on to the character."

Wolverine will be a prequel to the X-Men saga. It will center on the origins of the superhero with animal-like reflexes, an alloy skeletal system and the ability to heal from virtually any wound. He also could use a friend.

"I think one of the reasons the X-Men took off is that it connected in a way nobody saw," Jackman says. "They're mutants with powers. But they're also outcasts for being, and everyone connects with that on some level. And who wouldn't want the power to get back at the people who ostracized you?"


The film will trace Wolverine's past as he discovers the world of mutants and, ultimately, the ominous Weapon X program, which turns people into living weapons.

Jackman is tight-lipped on plot details, though he says the film will hardly be a one-mutant story.

Wolverine's nemesis Sabretooth "is going to play a big part in it. And there will be a good bit of cameos" of new and familiar mutants, he says. "But you can't give too much away, because fans are pretty hard-core. Their expectations go up a level every time you come out with a new film."

Fury said:

do you know who's directing?

Nice! I wonder if they are going to cover the "James Howlett" stuff or start with the weapon X stuff? Either way, I am there!

The X-Men movies were a huge disappointment to me.

so is he using steroids now?

Copycat said:

will.i.am?

Wolverine has always been one of the more boring X-Men characters to me, but if they do this, I hope they make him really feral and I hope we get to see some of the Canadian mutants.

Lammastide said:

He's going to be playing WRAITH. He has teleportation powers.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Ahh! interesting. Are Wraith's powers the same in the books?
[Edited 2/22/08 9:08am]

Lammastide said:

I don't know. I don't remember Wraith when I collected comics back in the day.
I just hope they do a good job. I know Ryan Reynolds as Bloodpool is going to do well. I really likeh him.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Is it Bloodpool or Deadpool? If it's Deadpool I will geek out. I enjoyed read his comicbooks more than Wolverine's.

Shawnt25 said:

I'm a complete dork, yes, it's Deadpool. My bad.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

I will have to see this movie then.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

DEADPOOL is in the movie?!? Way cool. I hope he gets some seriously comedic lines.

I love the x-men

I loved Wolverine when he was more wild but also had that protective and big-brother kind of relationship with Kitty Pryde. But that was it; I never found Logan's stories outside of the X-Men that memorable. I hope they've come up with something new and good for the movie.

This makes my inner geek tingle with delight.

Mmmmmm...I loves the Wolverine...

I haven't read a comic in a while, though. I read manga and webcomics now. I miss old Wolvy.

Efan said:

Just for you from Marvel next month:



WOLVERINE: FIRST CLASS #1
Return with us again to the early days of the all-new, all-different, X-Men for all-new solo adventures of Wolverine and Kitty Pryde! The next generation of students has arrived at Xavier's School--Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler, and the mysterious Wolverine--and with them, new teaching methods. Professor X pairs up green recruit Kitty Pryde with the been-everywhere, done-everything vet Logan, and neither of them are all that happy about it. But unless they learn to work together, neither of them will come back from their first mission together alive!

sextonseven said:

Thanks. But that description sounds awful, doesn't it?

OnlyNDaUsa said:

god, what would be the point? the James Howlett stuff is the most superfluous origin story in history. it's like a Spider-man origin that chronicles one afternoon at Peter Parker's third grade recess.


and they better not include anything from this recent "Origins" series by Daniel Way.
[Edited 2/22/08 17:25pm]

sextonseven said:

ridiculous.

Wolverine

Claws

Feral

sextonseven said:

Deadpool!

haha radical Deadpool rules, i hope this turns into a Deadpool spin off movie! What would be more interesting tho is the Magneto movie they are making as well, he has much cooler backstory that is worth telling i think

horatio said:

I thought the same thing when I saw that pic!

PurpleJedi said:

well, c'mon he has had eniugh time to build up

but I suppose he could be using them


the first xmen movie he was pretty skinny/regular, huh? quite sexy.