Hugh Jackman: Wolverine – X-Men (2000)
It’s been fifteen years since Hugh Jackman became Marvel’s Wolverine. Fifteen years. It was four years before Facebook was founded. It was seven years before the first iPhone was introduced. It was five years before Friends ended, which itself happened ten years ago. In that time, Jackman’s Wolverine has become almost as much of an institution as any of those things. But there was almost a very different face on the iron clawed, side-burn sporting mutant.
Jackman originally had no intention of becoming an actor. It was only after he got a degree in Communications and Journalism that he joined a drama school in 1991. Funding his slow way into the industry by working at gas stations and performing as a clown for children’s parties (if you do nothing else today, just take a moment to imagine Wolverine as a clown), it was 1995 before he landed his first regular TV role, in Australian prison drama Correlli. In 1999, he appeared in two movies on the Australian circuit – Erskinville, and Paperback Hero. Paperback Hero made it slightly further afield than Australia. Not quite far enough however, to truly shake off that lurking clown suit…
Meanwhile, over in America, 20th Century Fox were busy trying to convince The Usual Suspects director, Bryan Singer, to direct a movie adaptation of the Marvel Comic, X-Men. The problem was, Singer had never heard of the X-Men. A telling off from a friend (and no doubt a quick consult with Professor Google) was enough to inform him, however, that he might be missing something here – that there might be some distance in the story of these powerful mutants and their struggle with society. Especially this James/Logan/Wolverine character – he was pretty important among the fans, yes? Yes, said the studio officials, probably visibly wilting with relief – yes, Wolverine was pretty important.
Having gotten to grips with Wolverine from, er, scratch, Russell Crowe was Singer’s first choice for the role. Crowe turned it down, as did Edward Norton. The role finally went to Scottish actor Dougray Scott. However, the filming of Scott’s other movie, Mission Impossible 2, had been delayed, and as a result of the now conflicting schedules he was forced to pull out of X-Men. There were three months to go before shooting was due to start, and Singer was missing the most integral member of his line-up.
It was actually Crowe who recommended Jackman to Singer, but the audition tapes worried Singer, not least because according to the comics Wolverine is 5ft 3, and not 6ft 2, as Jackman is. With little other choice, however, Singer called Jackman in for a screen test, which led to him casting the actor on the spot – the first time he had ever done such a thing.
Jackman has, of course, since gone on to widespread and varied acting acclaim, including an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe win (both for Les Miserables.) But he became – and still is – the quintessential Wolverine. He may have been the last to be cast, but he will always be first among X-Men.
Hugh Jackman is notoriously one of the nicest men in Hollywood; he was, apparently, completely unspoiled by his abrupt arrival into superstardom, and firmly maintains a lifestyle that revolves around ordinary family values. His fame is put to good use by another member of his family, however. His 14 year old son’s favourite pick up line is: “Hey – my dad’s Wolverine.”
He most certainly is.
