Despite Hugh Jackman’s superstardom today, becoming Wolverine wasn’t a guaranteed path for the Australian actor. Reflecting on his audition back in 1999, 25 years ago for 2000’s X-Men, Jackman revealed he initially thought he had failed to secure the role. This audition came at a crucial juncture after the original actor, Dougray Scott, had to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict with Mission: Impossible 2.
According to EW, the audition, held on a film set in Toronto, was less than ideal. Jackman performed his lines to a seemingly disinterested Bryan Singer, the director, and screenwriter Tom DeSanto who repeatedly asked him to lower his voice, leaving Jackman feeling he had not made an impression. “He’s just going, ‘Quiet… Quieter… Quieter.’ By the end, I couldn’t even hear myself,” Jackman shared with Entertainment Weekly. “I could tell he was like, ‘Why on my lunch hour am I auditioning some guy for a part that I’ve already cast?’ He was pissed off.”
Feeling dejected, Jackman was ready to head home but was approached by then-producer’s assistant Kevin Feige, who wasn’t yet the Marvel powerhouse he is today. Feige, seeing potential in Jackman, invited him for a steak dinner with DeSanto, an act of kindness that left a lasting impression on the actor. “I said, ‘Kevin, we all know I’m not getting the part. You don’t have to do dinner,'” Jackman recalled telling Feige, who was adamant about the gesture. “But no, he sat in there and had a steak dinner with me and then drove me to the airport. I’ll never forget it. That was the nicest thing. I thought, I’ll never see him again.”
Feige’s faith in Jackman paid off spectacularly. Jackman not only secured the role of Wolverine but went on to play the iconic character in nine films, shaping his career and redefining superhero cinema. His portrayal became so beloved that despite announcing his retirement from the role in 2017 after Logan, Jackman couldn’t resist returning for Deadpool & Wolverine. This upcoming film promises to blend Wolverine’s intensity with a lighter, more humorous tone, thanks to Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool.
Deadpool & Wolverine will be a significant entry in the MCU, featuring Matthew Macfadyen as TVA agent Paradox and Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova. As fans eagerly await its release on July 26th, Jackman’s gratitude towards Feige and the Marvel team is palpable. This enduring relationship highlights how pivotal moments and kindness can significantly alter the trajectory of an actor’s career.
Whether this film marks Jackman’s final appearance as Wolverine remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the role has profoundly impacted his life and career, all thanks to a fateful audition and the generosity of a future industry titan.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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