Hugh Jackman on the Secret to Bulking Up to Become Wolverine Again
Hugh Jackman hasn’t suited up and bulked out as Wolverine for seven years, since James Mangold’s stellar 2017 film Logan. In that movie, as fans are well aware, an aging, sick—but still very strong—Wolverine was trying to protect Professor X (he failed) and later, a young mutant named Laura (Dafne Keen—he succeeded) in what would turn out to be his final, heroic act.
But of course, we now know nothing’s final where Marvel is concerned.
Jackman is back as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine, starring alongside Ryan Reynolds’ chatty Wade Wilson in the one and only film from Marvel to bow this year. In a conversation with People, Reynolds praised Jackman’s commitment to training.
“Just the sheer relentlessness that you dedicated yourself towards stunts, choreography,” Reynolds told People. “It was the first time I’d ever seen how invaluable a background in song and dance is when you are doing an action movie. You hit your marks in those fight scenes with speed and confidence, the likes of which I have never seen. I don’t care if you were 25, 35, 45 or 55. It was lightning. Watching you do what just looked like a clinic on stunt work was one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Jackman is, in fact, 55. Reynolds is 47. These are not spring chickens playing two of our most beloved superheroes.
Jackman paid his dues to stunt coordinator Brian Smrz, who got Jackman into dance training as a way to prepare for his action scenes.
“When I came back to it, it was really fun and I was thrilled,” Jackman told People. “My body was a little sore at the beginning, but I was thrilled that my body was still responding. And I realized how good it is for your brain. The hardest bit…[was] the food. I have to eat a lot. For me, for my body type, I’m naturally skinny. To get the size on, that’s the hardest bit. That’s the bit that does my head in.”
Jackman’s going to be doing other people’s heads in very soon. Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters on July 26.
For more on Deadpool & Wolverine, check out these stories:
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Hugh Jackman’s Return as Wolverine Surprised his Agent and Worried Kevin Feige
New “Deadpool & Wolverine” Teaser & Images Signal Start of Ticket Sales
“Deadpool & Wolverine” Doesn’t Require Prior Marvel Cinematic Universe Knowledge
Featured image: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
