6 Reasons Why Logan Has Ruined Wolverine Going Forward

After years of promises and failed attempts, we finally received the Wolverine film we deserved in the shape of James Mangold's Logan back in March. Not only was it an R-rated, bloody affair - much in line with the character's true nature - but it was also a mighty fine movie that could turn out to be the superhero flick of 2017. Heck, it might even end up as the best film of the year when all things are said and done. With all the accolades and praise, it's fair to say that Mangold delivered a more than satisfying conclusion to Hugh Jackman's final run as the clawed mutant. In case you didn't know by now, the Australian actor has vowed that this was his last time as Wolvie and the X-Men producers have said they won't be recasting the character in the near future. But if there's one thing that we've learned about Hollywood, it's to never believe anything that actors or studios say. It's normally all lies to sell the current project, so don't write off Jackman coming back again or the role being recast as soon as next month. Whether this is the end of the road for Wolverine, or he's brought back later on, there's one thing that's for sure: Logan has ruined the character forever. Hold up. Before you get into a huff and puff about this statement, though, please be sure to read the article, starting on the next page, for our full explanation. It makes sense, we promise. As always, we welcome your thoughts and opinions on this topic. So, if you agree or disagree with what we've said, please feel free to sound off in the comments section. The Mantle Has Been Passed To X-23 While Logan is a concluding chapter for Wolverine, it also marks the beginning of the story for Laura Kinney, AKA X-23. In fact, actress Dafne Keen did such a terrific job as the little berserker that she's sure to cement this role as her own in the years to come (perhaps a part in New Mutants could be on the cards?). In many ways, this film served as a passing of the baton from the original clawed superhero to a new one. By bringing back Wolvie, though, it'll be an almighty insult to Laura, and a devaluation of what her character achieved in her debut outing. This is her time now and she should be allowed an opportunity to shine without the hulking shadow of Logan looming over her. If we're so tired of seeing the same old mutants in X-Men films, shouldn't we let the next generation step up and be welcoming to the new faces taking over? Even though we still get a lump in the throat when we realize the grumpy stabber has retired from all the butt-kicking and impaling, Logan needs to remain in the past as X-23 is the future. For the sake of everyone, let him stay six feet under and enable the newbie to take his place. We've seen enough Wolverine to last us a lifetime… Sabretooth Is No Longer His Greatest Foe Probably the lowest point of Logan was the fact that Wolverine's greatest nemesis, Victor Creed, AKA Sabretooth, was nowhere to be found - except as a toy reference in a deleted scene (see above). Mangold did try to get Liev Schreiber to return as the villain for a cameo appearance, but a Ray Donovan scheduling conflict meant it unfortunately didn't happen. So, the main villain of his story ended up being X-24; in other words, Wolverine faced himself. It's a clever metaphor, showing us how he was always his own worst enemy and how he needed to conquer himself in order to find serenity and all that jazz. That said, it did kind of kick the Sabretooth character in the balls by failing to have him feature in a major part. How can you end off a Logan story without his archrival? For decades now, we've seen Wolverine and Sabretooth tear each other to pieces and it's become one of the greatest rivalries in comic book history (who could ever forget Wolverine #90?). By not allowing them one last dance though, it killed off the notion that Creed was ever in the same league as the likes of Magneto and Apocalypse. Now, he'll only be remembered as just another foe in the long line of bad guys. It's sad, really. The Fabled Costume Means Nothing Now The biggest disappointment of Jackman's run as Wolverine is that he never got to wear the famous yellow costume that the character had become popular for. Yes, we did get a glimpse of it in a case in 2013's The Wolverine (see above), but he never suited up in the gear in a live-action scenario. And frankly, this sucks. We've seen some of the most atrocious outfits brought to life (for example, Mystique's attire in X-Men: Apocalypse), so why not Wolvie's? As one of the most distinct superhero costumes around, it's a travesty that it never made a major appearance in any film. It basically cheapens the value and prestige of it. Have you ever seen a Batman movie where the actor hasn't worn the suit? Also, think about it this way: some day, someone will put on this fabled costume, but it won't be Jackman. Surely, he deserved better for his legacy? As something that's become part of the character's tradition, you'd think he would've at least suited up in it at some point, but nope, it was like he preferred a vest and jeans instead. There will be those that argue how it wouldn't look good on the big screen, but the fact is that superheroes wear costumes. Whether it makes aesthetic sense in the real world or not is beside the point, because these characters aren't real. Who wouldn't laugh if they saw some guy swinging from building to building wearing a red and blue spider-themed costume? Yet, we'd rage if Spider-Man wore anything else in a movie. Reviving Him Will Cheapen Logan's Legacy The finality of Logan's death was a powerful statement. It ushered in a new chapter and a world without him. There were no grains of sand rising from the ground, or a shift of the rocks on his grave; it was permanent. Weapon X is dead. If you're an avid comic book reader, though, you'll know that nothing is ever permanent in this medium. Characters die and come back to life in the Marvel universe more times than Stefano DiMera did in Days of Our Lives. The explanations for their resurrections are usually outrageously crazy, but hey, we love comics for what they are, right? All things considered, cinema is a completely different medium, and the legacy of Logan rides on whether the character will be revived so soon again. There's no doubt that the character will be rebooted down the line; however, there's a problem with what to do right now - especially since Wolverine is still one of the most popular X-Men around. Knowing Fox, they won't be able to ignore the opportunity to get those dollars rolling and will want more of him in their upcoming slate sooner rather than later. Sure, his death in Logan occurs in another timeline and not in the current one involving James McAvoy's Professor X, but since Jackman is gone from the series, they'll need to bring in another actor to replace him. And this leads us to our next point… Hugh Jackman Will Always Be Our Wolverine We've had several Spider-Men, Batmen, and Supermen, but we've only had one Wolverine. Even when the X-Men universe went through a soft reboot in the form of X-Men: First Class, the one actor who didn't receive the recasting treatment was Jackman. And that's because there's only one Logan: our mate from down under, Hugh. Logan is apparently his swansong, and he's adamant that he's done with the role for good. While there are thousands of other actors who'd kill to replace him as the grizzly, adamantium-infused beast, our hearts will always belong to Hugh. No matter how bad some of the X-Men films got over 17 years (and there were some truly awful ones, thanks to Bryan Singer, Gavin Hood, and Brett Ratner), he never let us down. Not one single time. He brought his A game with him on every occasion and made sure that Wolvie remained the best part of the average films. With the above in mind, can you think of anyone else you'd want in his role? Replacing him will feel like the ultimate betrayal. It would be like cheating on Gal Gadot with Sean Spicer, and then having to look her in the eye again. When they say time heals all wounds, we wonder if it'll heal the heartache of knowing that Hugh isn't the Ol' Canucklehead anymore. Right now, we don't think we'll ever get over it. Logan Was The Peak Even as a fan, you have to be honest and ask yourself, how can a Wolverine story top what we experienced in Logan? He found peace and purpose, as his troubled, raging soul made way for the calm and love as he was laid to rest. It was a satisfying end for our beloved X-Man, who experienced so much pain and sorrow in his life. Now, imagine being a screenwriter tasked with bringing back Logan in another X-Men film. It's like witnessing the Creation of Adam and then being expected to recreate it with a small tub of LEGO blocks. Sometimes, something is so perfect and flawless that it should remain cherished and untouched because any other attempt at a recreation will look cheap and pathetic in comparison. And this is one of those instances. There are hundreds of great Wolverine stories to be told, but none that have had or will have the emotional impact like what we witnessed in Logan. Whether it's better than the source material (Mark Millar's Old Man Logan) is a question that's still up for debate, but there's no doubt that the movie left a huge mark on comic book fans and filmgoers everywhere. Tell us, do you think James Mangold's Logan has ruined Wolverine going forward? Jump into the comments section and let us know your thoughts!