In typical tongue-in-cheek fashion, it was Ryan Reynolds’ Merc With a Mouth that once labeled the X-Men series as a difficult butterfly to pin (“McAvoy or Stewart? These timelines are so confusing.”), and given that Fox’s franchise now spans multiple movies across many different eras, you can hardly blame him.
But with Logan, a dystopian road flick set in the year 2029, writer-director James Mangold has consciously carved out a corner of the universe that is far removed from any other X-Men movie. It’s a decision that lends both Mangold and his team enough creative freedom to craft Wolverine’s final chapter as intended – “clear of existing entanglements,” as the director himself so aptly put.
That being said, there’s been some lingering confusion over Logan‘s timeline and, specifically, where it fits into the overarching universe. Lead star Hugh Jackman recently hinted that Wolverine’s final adventure takes place in a “slightly different universe” altogether, leading to all sorts of fan theories online. Eager to nip this one on the bud, Mangold has now clarified Jackman’s comments via Twitter, while also setting the record straight regarding the film’s rating, too.
@TylerCobaugh @Voldemorgoth Because we take place after all the other movies, we have freedom. That’s all he meant. Breathe,
— Mangold (@mang0ld) January 22, 2017
Official: Please be advised that LOGAN has been rated R for “strong brutal violence and language throughout, and for brief nudity.”
— Mangold (@mang0ld) January 23, 2017
In related news, now that Logan has been elected the cover star of Empire’s latest issue, the outlet has rolled out four all-new action shots from the James Mangold-directed threequel, showcasing both Wolverine and his protégé Laura (AKA X-23) in ass-kicking mode. Pitched as a road movie, Hugh Jackman told Empire that the imminent action-thriller can be likened to Little Miss Sunshine, with mutants.
“It’s a darker version of Little Miss Sunshine, with the three of us on the road,” Jackman laughed. “Slightly more violence!”
Further in the interview, James Mangold then offered up some context to the dynamic between Logan, Laura and Professor Xavier, played once again by the great Patrick Stewart.
“The idea of a road picture with Logan, Laura and Xavier in an average car was a driving image for me. Taking heroes and putting them in normalcy — and nothing makes them more normal than to cram them into a car and make them have to deal with each other — that seemed the ultimate contradiction of what tentpole movies tend to do.”
Logan debuts on March 3rd.
