It was like Christmas came early for superhero movie fans when it was announced that Hugh Jackman would be returning as Wolverine for Deadpool 3. His tenure as a fan favorite X-Men character seemed as good as over Loganand fans everywhere hailed the film as the perfect swan song for the character and one of the best superhero movies ever.
But while the return of Jackman’s Wolverine came as the best surprise, sooner or later the character will be recast. With the MCU while he’s planning his own version of the X-Men team, it’s only a matter of time before we get another face portraying Wolverine. We’ve heard a lot of rumors over the years and fans have also had their say on who they think should inherit the adamantium claws. Here are the fans’ most popular picks for the next live-action Wolverine.
Karl Urban
Karl Urban has been busy entertaining the crowd as Billy Butcher, the superhero-hating vigilante from the gory superhero series the boys. His character on the show immediately resembles Wolverine in a number of key ways, from the grizzly facial hair to the tough talk. Urban was the most popular choice by fans to replace Jackman as Wolverine, with numerous online artworks casting him in the role. Some fans have gone a step further and faxed Karl Urban’s face in scenes with Jackman’s Wolverine. Urban’s face fits into the Wolverine makeover with surprising ease. Unfortunately, however, Urban pointed out that Marvel Studios is unlikely to take him up on the offer, given that he’s only a few years younger than Jackman himself.
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy already plays another famous Marvel Comics character, albeit in a different cinematic universe. Although his version of Venom was featured in Spider-Man: No Way Home during a post-credits scene, fans continue to find him a great choice to play the next Wolverine. In addition to having the right looks for the character, Hardy has a certain robustness that spills over into his acting roles. He has proven that he is more than capable of handling physical roles, and also has great dramatic chops as evidenced by movies like locke — skills critical to Wolverine’s role. Best of all, he is too Jackman’s personal choice take over after his retirement.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe has solidified his name in pop culture in the role of Harry Potter. But his acting career in the years after the Harry Potter movies was very interesting, and full of eclectic choices. Robust haircuts suit him very well, and his short stature would also make him a comically accurate Wolverine, as the character in the comics is only six feet tall. His appearance in films such as Rifles Akimbo also shows that he is able to match the intense physicality required for Wolverine.
Taron Egerton
Welsh actor Taron Egerton found fame with the Kingsman movies, and proved his acting prowess with his memorable portrayal of Elton John in the singer’s biopic Rocketman. His name has popped up regularly in fan discussions about who should be the next Wolverine. Egerton himself has expressed an interest in being part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and even said he would definitely agree to take on the mantle if given the chance. However, he has said in the past that he has never felt like a “wolverine species”. Yet he has the seal of endorsement of Joe Russo to be cast as the MCU Wolverine.
Antony Starr
Two protagonists from the boys are coveted by fans for the role of the new Wolverine. In addition to Urban, fans also look positively at Antony Starr, who plays the series’ main antagonist as the super Homelander. Between this and his other most famous show, banshee, he has shown that he can merge with his characters in an almost indistinguishable way. This quality could be put to good use in creating a brand new version of Wolverine building his own way, rather than trying to imitate Jackman’s version.
Jared Keeso
Best known for writing and acting in the comedy series letterkenny, Jared Keeso is as far removed from the superhero genre as you can imagine. But there are quite a few people who think Keeso is the best replacement for Jackman in the MCUs X-Men. There is even a change.org petition to cast him as the Wolverine, with over 6,500 signatures. There are also some good arguments for this casting. Like the Wolverine, Keeso is also Canadian and is a few inches shorter than Jackman. His character in letterkenny also includes key traits that easily translate to the clawed X-Man, as Wayne’s demeanor is clearly reserved and surly, ready to spring into action at any moment.
Scott Eastwood
Hollywood icon and certified badass Clint Eastwood was a major inspiration for the development of Wolverine’s signature character in the comic books. And while he’s far too old to play any version of the character these days, fans are seeing his son, Scott Eastwood, as a worthy contender for the role. Fan art on the internet proves he can feel right at home in the Wolverine’s gruff looks.
Charlie Hunnam
Charlie Hunnam is best known for his starring role in the TV series Sons of Lawlessness. Hunnam is a natural athlete known for regularly appearing in action movies such as Pacific and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. In later years he has gone for more varied roles and will appear in the drama thriller series Shantaram. Throughout his various roles, he has been able to deliver convincing performances that range from the coarse to the vulnerable, which has been the main quality of Jackman’s Wolverine.
Sam Worthington
Sam Worthington has directed some of the biggest action movies in recent years, such as: Avatar and Terminator: Rescue. He is quite comfortable with physical roles and is clearly an affordable actor from the studio’s point of view. Fans wanting to see him in the role of the MCU Wolverine tend to draw attention to the visual similarities between him and Jackman, with Geek Outpost even calls his appearance a mix between Jackman and Ewan McGregor. Worthington certainly wouldn’t disappoint if Marvel Studios decided to give him the title in their movies.