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MovieWeb Aug 13, 2006
During a recent press event for his new film, 10th & Wolf, James Marsden talked about returning to the X-Men franchise for any sequels or spinoffs on our favorite mutants.
Even though it's supposedly a prequel for Wolverine, James said he'd love to join the cast if he's asked. "It's prior to our meeting in the first film. Yeah, I feel very lucky to be a part of those films and great affection for the comics and for those characters and I feel very lucky to be a part of it and I would. If they'd have me, I'd be a part of everyone they did."

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IESB.net Oct 15, 2006
The IESB sat down with Jackman and a few other journalists today at The Prestige press day in Pasadena. Jackman revealed that the final script for Wolverine has been turned in and signed off on. He also said that shooting would begin immediately after he completes filming on the as yet untitled Baz Luhrmann project he is signed on to do with Nicole Kidman in Australia.
Check out Hugh Jackman in his own words below.

HJ: We just now signed off on the [Wolverine] script. If you know the history of the X-Men movies, this is a revolution for us. We're a year away from shooting the film and we have the script, and by the way it's unbelievable. It's the David Benioff script. He's a huge fan. You guys know Benioff, one of the hardest working writers in town. He was beating down our door to write this movie. It was like the most amazing thing. So we have this fantastic script and I have a couple movies coming up in the next month and I might be able to tell you who the director is by then. We are in serious talks right now.

Q: We know that it's a prequel is it going to follow any of the Japanese storylines?

HJ: At present no, that is something that we really want to do, that's a whole other movie. What we really want to do is establish who he is and find out how he became Wolverine.

Q: So there is a possibility of Wolverine 2?

HJ: I'm not ruling it out.

So there you have, the latest up to date news on the Wolverine film straight from Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman.

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ign.com Oct 30, 2006
Slowly but surely, Wolverine is coming together. According to star and producer Hugh Jackman, if all goes to plan, fans can look forward to seeing Wolvie in his first solo, big screen adventure in late spring of 2008.

"That's kind of what we're looking at right now," Jackman tells IGN. "A summer release would be great though. Perhaps that's possible. But some things still need to fall into place."

The first element that needs to fall into place is the screenplay. And the word from Jackman is screenwriter David Benioff "has delivered, big time. We now have the final script, the final draft, which I absolutely love. For me, it's the most superior of them all. I know the fans are going to go crazy for it."

Jackman and his producing partners inquired with a few screenwriters and considered story proposals. Inevitably, they were sold by Benihoff's knowledge of X-Men lore and enthusiasm for the Wolverine movie.

"Here's a guy who's this amazing writer, probably one of the hottest writers going in town; Spielberg and everyone are after him," says Jackman. "But he was beating down our door to make this movie because he's the most passionate Wolverine fan. He's followed all of the books since he was 9-years-old. For us, it's one of those rare combinations where you have a writer who has all these Oscar-winning directors wanting to work with and he's like, 'I want to do Wolverine!'"

As Jackman was working on The Prestige and other projects, he stayed in periodic contact with Beinhoff as he wrote the script.

"With someone like David, you mostly let him do his thing and he comes back with the script," he says. "He'd deliver a draft, we'd sit down together and talk about it. And I'd let him know what I think. If I think so, I'll say 'It's fantastic.' Or, 'We may have to go in this direction.' Or, 'What about this?' He's very collaborative."

Having played Wolverine for three films, Jackman says he was able to bring his unique perspective to the script.

"For better or worse, I've played the role for three movies so it's a character that I know. I feel like I know what I want to achieve with the film, but David has been very collaborative, and I'm not shy in telling him what I think. He'll say I disagree with you or whatever. But it's been a really terrific process so far."

What Jackman wants for Wolverine is this: "I don't want the film to appear at all like X-Men 4 in disguise. I want it to feel like a very fresh, whole new character piece. I want it to be a character movie. And by the end of the movie, I want it to be that you definitely knew who this guy was. Cool action, great characters, but ultimately that you totally know who Wolverine is. Like Mad Max and Dirty Harry. Characters I loved. He's a good guy, but he's not a nice guy. He's just the guy you want on your side. [David] really got that. He's one of the best character writers in Hollywood. He totally got it."

The next essential element is working Wolverine into Jackman's schedule. As the star and producer, he knows it will be a huge time commitment - probably three to four months of photography, some of which may take place in Australia, then considerable post-production.

"I'm shooting a movie with Baz Luhrmann and Nicole Kidman next year in Australia, and then we plan to do Wolverine after that."

And let's not forget about a director. "That's our next goal," says Jackman. "Now we have to find a director, which we're looking for now. If I see you guys maybe in about a month, I might be able to let you know who the director is. We're close."

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movies.about.com Nov 6, 2006
Hugh Jackman can’t avoid questions about the movie Wolverine, even when he’s busy promoting a different film. During the press rounds for The Prestige (a thriller directed by Christopher Nolan and co-starring Christian Bale), Jackman patiently answered questions about the upcoming Wolverine movie.

What can say about the status of Wolverine?

“We just now have a final script, final draft from David Benioff, which I absolutely love. I know the fans are going to go crazy for it. It’s just fantastic. Benioff is an amazing writer. Obviously you guys know him, but for the fans who don’t, he’s probably one of the hottest writers hanging around town. Spielberg and everyone are after him. He was beating down our door to make this movie because he is the most passionate Wolverine fan. He’s followed him since he was nine, so it’s one of those rare combinations where you have a writer who all these Oscar-winning directors are wanting to write, and he’s like, ‘I want to do Wolverine.’ So he’s written a script, which for me is the most superior of them all, and now we have to find a director which we’re looking for now.

I’ve got a couple movies coming out so if I see you guys maybe in about a month, I might be able to let you know. We’re close. Then I’m shooting a movie with Baz Luhrmann and Nicole Kidman next year in Australia. We plan to do Wolverine after that.”

Will that preclude more X-Men movies?

“For me? In the near future, yeah. I think the plan is to do the Wolverine movie. I don't know what the future is for that franchise. I’m almost sure there’s no more X-Men movies. I have heard talk about a movie about the younger X-Men, a more kid-orientated thing which I might play a small part in. I’ve heard a story about a Magneto spin-off as well. But, honestly, I’ve probably heard what you’ve heard. I’ve heard nothing official. But I do know that we’re going to make the Wolverine movie.”

What intrigues you most about playing Wolverine?

“To me, he’s one of the great screen archetypes. He’s like, when I was growing up, Han Solo and Mad Max, Dirty Harry. These were all the kind of roles I loved. And that’s what Wolverine is. He’s that reluctant hero. He is a good guy, but he’s not a nice guy. I think we all love that character. He’s the guy you want on your side, but at the same time, there’s no B.S. about him.”

Will it be weird to play a younger Wolverine?

“Well, he doesn’t age, right? We have to ask the audience to suspend their disbelief a little because I have aged. I’m not going to go and have surgery, but I think that’s the beauty of playing that role. I won’t be able to do it when I’m 60, but I think for a few years I should be all right.”

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IESB.net Nov 13, 2006
While talking to Hugh Jackman during The Prestige junket he told me that he hoped to be about a month away from announcing who would be directing Wolverine. Fast forward one month and we talked to Hugh again on Saturday during the press day of The Fountain.

With the recent revelation that Bryan Singer had been offered to direct Wolverine, we have been working overtime to get more details.

Before talking to Hugh on Saturday, we looked at all the specifics involving Wolverine/Superman:

Bryan has not yet read the Wolverine script
Pre-production of the Superman sequel will start September/Fall of 2007
Bryan would consider Wolverine only if he can finish it before prep on the Superman sequel begins
Hugh Jackman really wants Bryan to come back to the X Men franchise and direct Wolverine
So knowing ahead of time that Hugh wants Bryan for Wolverine we decided to ask some specifics regarding the project.

IESB: About a month ago, you said you might have news on who you would prefer to have direct Wolverine. Recently, Bryan Singer has said he was offered to direct it, doing more research I am hearing it’s been you hoping to get Bryan to direct it.

Hugh Jackman: Well, the…(laughing)…the thing is it’s all in negotiations, I can really…there is a list and Bryan is, sort of, at the beginning of it, so, of course, he’s in the loop. So, but, it is too early for me to say.

IESB: The fact that he [Bryan Singer] is talking about it…

Hugh Jackman: I think it’s great, we’ll see the way we go, and now we have the script and now we really need to work out who is the best person for it. But, you know, Bryan has always been in the loop, for us.

IESB: Is the plan still to shoot [Wolverine] mid-year next year (2007)?

Hugh Jackman: No, I’m meant to finish Baz’s [Lurhmann] movie, the end of August, my guess is that Baz might just go til September…well, who knows, I think we’ll go for the beginning of ’08. That way…I need to have, my idea for Wolverine, I want to have four months clear before I start shooting, ‘cause I want to be in shape, the physical shape, I have never been in before.

So what did we learn in this quick chat with Hugh? That Bryan is the preferred director but there is a major timing issue in the production.

With Hugh hoping to start production of Wolverine first few months of 2008 that would put Bryan in the middle of pre-production of Superman. So unless the Baz Luhrmann project is finished early, which won’t happen, or if Superman or Wolverine start production at a different time, it is safe to say that Bryan Singer will not direct Wolverine.

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ComingSoon.net Nov 14, 2006
ComingSoon.net caught up with Hugh Jackman (The Fountain) and got an update about his upcoming projects.

...The "X-Men" fans are also eager for updates on his Wolverine spinoff. Jackman said the project "is out to directors and no, I haven't heard anything. It's hard because you can't... we're approaching very A list directors so you can't give it to 20 of them at once."

Asked if we can expect any mutant cameos, Jackman grinned and replied, "It's a prequel, so there won't be many. There will be other new characters."

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Originally posted by manorastroman
they already made a wolverine spin off. it was called wolverine 3: wolverine wolverine wolverine.

you remember, the war finally broke out and magneto had his brotherhood and jean was all in phoenix mode. that had as much wolverine ball-sucking as a spin off would.

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Originally posted by Sabretooth
Oh yeah, I keep forgetting it's trendy to be a Wolveracist now. Tell you what, you can stay home for the Wolverine movie and ***** to all your friends about how your favorite character either didn't make it in any of the X-Movies or had all of their screen-time stolen by the most popular super hero ever. I'll go see the movie and enjoy Jackman's dead-on portrayal of the character that pretty much singlehandedly saved the X-Men from being cancelled about twenty years ago and pay the character the respect he deserves. Then, we'll compare notes and see who had more fun on movie night.

You know, there was a Wolverine that didn't suck a long time ago, before Marvel ruined the character by overusing him and making him ridiculously overpowered. THAT is the Wolverine in the movies. Like it or not, Wolverine is the reason the X-Men movie was made in the first place. Wolverine is the reason enough people came to see it to warrant making two (and possibly more) sequels. It's actually a pretty simple concept: The reason why Wolverine gets top billing and the most screen time is because he's the one most people are there to see. Most non-comic fan people couldn't give a rat's ass about Cyclops, Iceman or a horribly portrayed Storm. How well does anybody really think a movie about the X-Men without Wolverine in it would do? Anybody who wants more movies about the X-Men universe better hope nothing ever happens to Hugh Jackman.

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Originally posted by manorastroman
that, and it was called "wolverine III: wolverine wolverine wolverine". if wolverine hating is trendy, you must be on the level of neon pink hobies and watching survivor.

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IESB.net Nov 19, 2006
Just when you thought our interview with Lauren Shuler Donner was over we come back with even more details on future X-Men films.

IESB: Well, you mentioned X-Men…

LSD: I also believe movies should be fun, I totally believe they should be a fun experience, you’re gonna pay a lot of money, you are gonna stand in line, it has to be fun.

IESB: Absolutely, from early stages, talking with Tom Rothman recently…he’s really excited about genre, and he does not rule out future X-Men ensemble films. I asked him point blank if we were going to see Gambit and he said he really believes we will see Gambit one day. Do you think you will be involved in the X-Men franchise at that time?

LSD: Oh yes, we are a team, it’s myself, Ralph [Winter], Avi [Arad] and Kevin [Feige]. We have a production manager Ross Fanger, we are a team and we go from X-Men, we are the X-Men world and I would hope we would always stay together, I mean, I am contractually bound, but yes I will always be…

IESB: We were talking to Shawn Ashmore recently and we asked him if he’s heard anything about any young X-Men spin offs and even Halle Berry at the junket for The Last Stand was open to coming back. Do you think soon, a couple years down the line…

LSD: I hope so, I think if we can work out the economics of it, absolutely. Certainly there are tons of stories. There is 40 years worth of stories. I’ve always wanted to do Days of Future Past and there are just really a lot of stories yet to be told. I wouldn’t rule anything out.

IESB: Wolverine, we mentioned this earlier, Hugh’s like, oh yeah I really want to bulk up for four months, he might just have to bulk up in Australia during the Baz Luhrman film? Is that what you think?

LSD: I don’t know, it’s our desire but, you certainly, you know, he has to be available and willing and my desire is always to shoot it sooner than later because every year there are more and more comic book movies and we want to remain fresh in everybody’s mind. So, I’m hoping to do it in the Fall, another movie may precede us, I don’t know.

IESB: And it’s the first time that an X-Men script has been done so early.

LSD: Yes, I know (laughing) Yeah, so let’s do it!

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Originally posted by Shalimar_fox
sabertooth don't worry about what he says.anyway yes make the movie already

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ifmagazine.com June 20, 2006
It's the highest grossing movie of the summer ($200 million and still counting), but the future is still uncertain for more movies based on Marvel Comic’s mutant books. One of the biggest fans of the comics was Simon Kinberg who with Zak Penn scripted X-MEN THE LAST STAND for the big screen. Kinberg gave iF some clues as to where the screen future of the X-MEN lies, and how each actor approached what may be their final portrayal of an iconic role.

iF MAGAZINE: What was working with the Wolverine character like knowing they are planning a Wolverine movie?

KINBERG: Wolverine doesn’t exactly come after X3 so what happens to him is not terribly relevant to his own movie. We did talk about a couple of characters that they wanted to save for the Wolverine movie spin-off. I can’t tell you who they are, but there was really only one we wanted to use for X3, and they said they’re not going to have a big enough part to risk losing them for Wolverine. Sabretooth will be in there, but I don’t know in what form. I think his relationship with Wolverine is under explored. I like X1 a great deal, I thought the tone was fantastic and thought the X-Men were great, but I was a little under whelmed by the Brotherhood in that movie. I thought the secret island lair and Magneto’s plot were confusing to me, and Sabretooth and Toad were not as strong as Mystique. I like working with actors who have inhabited their characters for a while, and I welcome their input. Hugh has lived with Wolverine for five years and he knows this character better than anybody. He knows him better than Chris Claremont or better than Avi Arad, and certainly better than any of us working on this film. Hugh was also a producer on this movie, and we worked really closely with Hugh on Wolverine. The most conversations that I had with actors on this movie were with Hugh about Wolverine and Famke about Phoenix. They both are incredibly smart people who had a lot of intelligent informed questions about the characters. I would say the most input about Wolverine came from Hugh and not the studio.

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Originally posted by Darth Jello
They could make a terrific movie if they take their time and pretty much do a montage of his early life with familiar actors playing unfamiliar characters. Tyler Mane as Dog, Famke Janssen as Rose, James Marsden as Maverick, Patrick Stewart as Proffessor Andre Thornton, etc. Maybe make the main villain of the movie someone truely frightening, like Cyber.

For those unfamiliar, historically, Cyber has been the only villain that can make wolverine piss himself every time.

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www.imdb.com Oct 16, 2006
Credited cast:
Hugh Jackman .... Logan/Wolverine
Brian Cox .... William Stryker (rumored)
Ken Watanabe .... Kenuichio Harada/Silver Samurai (rumored)

Writing credits:
David Benioff (written by)

Plot Outline:
A prequel to X-Men. Wolverine lives a mutant life, seeks revenge against Victor Creed (who will later become Sabertooth) for the death of his girlfriend, and ultimately signs up and goes through the mutant Weapon X program.