After 14 years of playing Wolverine, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Hugh Jackman in the role. At age 45 though, he won’t be able to continue on for much longer. The actor has maybe another five to seven years left where he can still pull off the part and, eventually, he’ll have to be recast. It’s unfortunate, but as Jackman himself says, it’s “inevitable.” After all, Fox won’t just stop making X-Men movies because Jackman is too old to star in them. There’s way too much money to be made off the franchise for that to happen.
In a recent interview with IGN, the actor asked about being recast one day, and had the following to say:
Look, that’s inevitable, man. Anyone who thinks they’re indispensable in this business is fooling themselves. But I feel unbelievably blessed to have this part. I never thought in a million years I’d get to play him seven times. Every day I walk on the set with the claws and the hair, I thank my lucky stars. I don’t take any of it for granted. To think that in a second version we’d have this cast and this director, and you guys don’t know the script, but I would say probably the best script of all of them, is pretty amazing. I think that’s why I’m still here. I’m sure by the way, that it won’t always be my decision to always be here. At some point, someone will close the door on me… [Laughs]
Of course, this all leads to the question of who could ever replace Jackman? Or, better yet, could the studio ever find someone willing to replace Jackman? If you thought Ben Affleck received a shitstorm of hate when he donned the cape and cowl, just think about the poor soul who has to take on the role of Wolverine once Jackman is done with it. I can’t even imagine what the internet will have to say when the time comes.
Tell us, could you ever see anyone else but Hugh Jackman playing Wolverine? Sound off below!
