Hugh Jackman Knows: Sometimes It’s Good To Change Your Mind
In popular culture, we know that when a big artist says that they are doing something for the “last” time, we should take that with a few grains of salt. “Farewell” often means “farewell… for now.”
If you’re a music fan, you’ve probably rolled your eyes when artists from Jay-Z to Motley Crue to LCD Soundsystem make a big deal out of a “farewell,” only to return just a few years later. I’ve written about how much I respect when someone says that they’re done with something, and they mean it. But sometimes things change, and there’s a good reason (beyond money) for an artist to return to something that they’d left behind.
In 2017, Hugh Jackman starred as Logan in Logan: it was the eighth time he played the role (not including cameos in 2011’s X-Men: First Class and 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse). Taking inspiration from the classic “Old Man Logan” comic book storyline, the film was to be Logan’s final story. Patrick Stewart returned as Professor Charles Xavier for the fifth time; it was also meant to be his final time playing the character. Indeed, Stewart told Variety that the experience encouraged him to return to another iconic role: Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Jean-Luc Picard. (Stewart has since returned for an extended cameo in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; it remains to be seen if he’ll play that role again.)
Logan was a great farewell to the beloved anti-hero and Jackman seemed sincere in wanting to say goodbye to Wolverine, despite the obvious financial reward of doing more films (and the fact that it is the role that made him a star).
But Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool changed what comic book movies can be. Reynolds’ Deadpool character debuted in the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but 2016’s Deadpool turned the genre on its ear with its over-the-top violence, fourth-wall-breaking meta humor, and its surprisingly sweet heart. 2018’s Deadpool 2 did more of the same, and also referenced Logan quite a bit. It featured a Jackman cameo (believed to be taken from outtakes from previously shot films). Deadpool was practically begging for Wolverine to join him. Reynolds — and millions of fans — clearly wanted to see a hilarious, R-rated, Deadpool and Wolverine team-up… or throw-down.
Additionally, in the years since Jackman played Logan, Disney, who owns Marvel Studios, acquired 20th Century Fox (there’s a funny Easter egg about this in the film). That allowed for the X-Men (and the Fantastic Four) to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This opens up the possibilites for so many more different types of stories. Plus, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige says that Marvel is open to doing more R-rated films.
As for Deadpool & Wolverine: it was a blast. Like the previous Deadpool films, it was, as I said, over-the-top violent, funny, meta and had a sweet heart. No spoilers here: it introduces Logan and Deadpool to the MCU. Much of it takes place in The Void, first introduced in the Loki TV series. The Void is a like a giant junkyard for things and people from alternate universes. This led to some fun — and truly jaw-dropping — cameos, Easter eggs and references.
I recently asked, if Marvel movies have too much backstory. In other words, can you go into a Marvel movie with no prior knowledge and enjoy it? I’d argue with some of the more multiverse-y films — like Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness and 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — you could not.
By contrast, Deadpool & Wolverine may have a lot of references that a newbie might miss and a few things that might require explanation. (We provided a list of related films and TV shows that give some of the backstory here, or this video could help you to catch up). But the story at the core of the film holds up with or without all the extra Marvel stuff.
Also – let’s not forget that these movies are supposed to be fun. Watching Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds promoting the film on every conceivable platform over the past few weeks has been a blast. And that chemistry is what makes the film great, more than any special effect, fight scene or cameo. As Whoopi Goldberg said at the end of their segment on The View this week, “Do yourself a favor: leave the politics [behind] for a couple of hours, and go have a good time.” She’s right. I did not think about our corner of the multiverse for a good two hours.
And Jackman’s decision to return was a successful one: per The Hollywood Reporter, Deadpool & Wolverine opened to an estimated $205 million, the eight-biggest debut of all time and the biggest launch for an R-rated film (not adjusted for inflation). It made $233 million overseas for a global opening of $438 million. The film has gotten mostly good reviews, but more importantly, the public loves it. Rotten Tomatoes reports that it has a 97% approval rate from audiences.
It was a big weekend for Marvel and a big weekend for big names making big returns. On Saturday night, we learned that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU. In his case, he’s playing a new character (or, perhaps, a variant of his former one: Tony Stark, aka Iron Man). He’s going to be the “big bad” of the next two Avengers films, Dr. Doom, one of Marvel’s most iconic villains. Again, the context of his decision changed. Since leaving the MCU, he’s won an Oscar, which might make him feel more comfortable about doing more popcorn films. And Marvel has moved away from Kang, the villain who was supposed to battle the Avengers.
In one of the many forth-wall-breaking quips in Deadpool & Wolverine, Deadpool says of Wolverine, “They’re gonna make him do this until he’s 90!” Jackman is in his fifties and obviously in incredible shape; he’s definitely got a few more decades of Wolverine in him if he wants it. And as long as the Marvel writer’s room can come up with stories like this one, there are surely more great Logan tales to be told. So, welcome back, Hugh, we hope you stay a while.
