If one was to summarize Logan in a single word, it’d probably be ‘bittersweet.’
James Mangold’s R-rated masterstroke is far and away the best Wolverine movie – standalone or otherwise – but it’s also the last. And though recent developments between Fox and Disney have spawned rumors of a potential return, Hugh Jackman’s time wielding those deadly adamantium claws is ostensibly over.
Currently out promoting his role in The Greatest Showman – look for the Michael Gracey musical to open opposite Jumanji on December 20th – the actor sat down with Cinema Blend, and it wasn’t long before the outlet raised the question: how does he feel about Logan now that the dust has settled?
Pretty good, we imagine, and sure enough, when CB posited the widely held opinion that Hugh Jackman and Co. knocked it out of the park – or managed to stick the landing, to use the exact phrasing – the Aussie actor agreed profusely:
I’m going to use that phrase. That’s exactly how it feels. I feel like we’ve come close. We have had moments in the other movies that have come close. But for me, that movie was sticking the landing, and it feels great. I’m going to totally use that. Thank you!
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows; early last week, Jackman admitted that he still has one regret from his time in the X-Men universe. And it largely comes down to the fact that he wished he had looked at Logan through an R-rated lens long before 2017.
I wish I’d started playing him like that 17 years ago. So there’s some sense of missed opportunity, but when I saw ‘Logan,’ I sat there and I did have tears in my eyes. The main feeling I had was: There, that’s the character. I feel like I’ve done it now. And I was calm and at peace, but I’m going to miss that guy.
With awards season now in full flow, Logan has also emerged as something of a dark horse going into this year’s Oscar race. As a matter of fact, just last week the film was shortlisted for Best Visual Effects alongside Wonder Woman and The Last Jedi, so it’ll be interesting to find out if Jackman’s swan song makes the cut when the full list of Oscar nominees are announced on January 23rd.
