Who needs an audition when the internet has already cast Wolverine a dozen times?
As Hugh Jackman’s 26-year reign as Logan continues, fans are already imagining his successor. A woman Wolverine, Superman trading his cape for adamantium claws, Harry Potter becoming an X-Man and even a Wolverine-Thanos hybrid have entered the frenzy. Marvel, however, has announced no successor.
Jackman, 57, recently joked that he plans to play Logan until 90. Yet he has urged whoever replaces him not to copy his version. He said he received no instructions when he began and hopes his successor makes the character their own.
The most intriguing possibility is Dafne Keen, who played Laura/X-23 in Logan and Deadpool & Wolverine. The comics give her a precedent, with Laura eventually taking up the Wolverine mantle.
Then comes Henry Cavill. After playing Superman for DC, he became Marvel’s Wolverine variant in Deadpool & Wolverine. His cigar-smoking “Cavillrine” turned fan fantasy into reality, fuelling speculation that Marvel could bring him back as a multiverse Wolverine.
Daniel Radcliffe remains a persistent fan choice. His shorter stature fits Wolverine’s comic-book build, while Guns Akimbo showed his physical range. He has denied Marvel talks.
Taron Egerton is another favourite, backed by Kingsman, Rocketman and Black Bird, plus comic-accurate height. He has admitted replacing Jackman would be intimidating.
Jack Reynor, Michiel Huisman, Charlie Hunnam, Josh Segarra, Dacre Montgomery, Scott Eastwood and Jack O’Connell have also joined the fan-made shortlist.
Marvel may not need one Wolverine. Rumours link Jackman to Deadpool 4, Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, while another theory suggests a standalone Wolverine film after the Multiverse Saga. None is confirmed.
And the wildest possibility? What If…? season three teased a Wolverine-Thanos fusion.
With Deadpool & Wolverine crossing $1.3 billion worldwide, Jackman remains valuable. But Marvel must build the next X-Men generation without erasing the man who made Wolverine iconic.
For now, the claws remain Jackman’s. The casting frenzy, however, has already begun.
