‘Logan’: James Mangold & Hugh Jackman On Portraying Older Wolverine

'Logan' director James Mangold and star Hugh Jackman discuss how they approached portraying an older Wolverine both physically and mentally.

Logan
When Logan, the third and final installment of the Wolverine film series, hits theaters it will likely be the closest fans ever get to seeing a live-action adaptation of the popular comic book Old Man Logan. In an interview with Empire, director James Mangold and star Hugh Jackman discussed how they approached portraying an older Logan both physically and in terms of appearance.

Jackman revealed that he followed the advice of actor Jim Broadbent in order the portray the physicality of Logan’s age.

“When he was playing older, [Broadbent] would tape a little stone to his heel. I would have that, just to remind myself of a limp. [Logan’s] body hurts. His joints hurt. His heart hurts. Psychologically, he’s damaged. What’s the collateral damage of being Wolverine for all those years?”

Mangold revealed the inspiration for Logan’s appearance in the film came from another famous actor.

“[Hugh Jackman] kind of looks like Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven, while Sir Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier has a little bit of hair.”

Mangold explained the decision to give the traditionally bald Charles Xavier some hair this time.

“[That] could be kind of sacrilege. The theory was that he originally lost all his hair because it’s just too damn busy [in his head] to grow hair – the idea for me was, well, maybe there’s a little fringe on there, because things are slowing down mentally.”

Mangold revealed which surprising film he cited when pitching the concept for Logan.

“I said, ‘I want to make Little Miss Sunshine with Logan, Charles Xavier, and X-23. Trap these superheroes in a van on a highway in the year 2029 and see what happens.’”

Finally, Jackman expressed his admiration of Patrick Stewart.

“I always tell my wife, ‘when I grow up, I want to be like Patrick Stewart.’ He wakes up every morning of his life, and for thirty minutes, he gets a cup of tea, and reads a book. He reads something he loves, every day of his life. This guy knows how to live!”

Between the inspiration for the lead character’s physical appearance and the films story, it sounds as though fans are going to view a Wolverine film unlike any seen before.

In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young Mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

Logan will mark actor Hugh Jackman’s final portrayal of the character after debuting in the role in Bryan Singer’s original X-Men film back in 2000.

The film will also star Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Richard E. Grant, Doris Morgado, Stephen Merchant, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Patrick Stewart.

Logan will be released in theaters on March 3, 2017.

Source: Empire

Sebastian Peris

Sebastian Peris

Canadian film buff, political junkie, comic book geek, and board game enthusiast.