We probably all knew it would happen one day. When Logan – The Wolverine came out in 2017, it seemed for a moment as if we were actually going to see Hugh Jackman. the last time in the role that had accompanied him for two decades. Last but not least, Jackman himself emphasized in various interviews that the film was his farewell performance as Wolverine.
A apocalyptic Marvel Requiemlike we’ve never seen before: Logan dies a death at the end of the film that convinced even the most skeptical voice in my head that Wolverine’s story was over. What an emotional bombshell! Closely followed by a devastating final chord whose finality was absolutely unmistakable. And yet: now he’s back.
I didn’t want Hugh Jackman to return as Wolverine, and yet I still gave in
In September 2022, Ryan Reynolds surprised everyone with the announcement that Jackman will accompany him on his entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a short video, the two spoke out and assured that Deadpool & Wolverine is definitely not the Legacy of Logan But every fiber in my body resisted this return. I definitely didn’t want that.
20th Century Studios
Hugh Jackman in Logan: The Wolverine
I wasn’t interested in the Logan legacy on a story basis. James Mangold staged Wolverine’s farewell so well that I’ll be lying on the floor crying every time, no matter how often Jackman returns. What bothered me more was the idea behind it: Logan was a Anomaly in the eternal franchise cinemaA farewell that felt real. That happens far too rarely.
I wanted to preserve the finality of this blockbuster exception – the way I think about the finale of series that have accompanied me for years and sent me home with a great cathartic moment. And still I became weakas soon as the first set photos of Jackman in costume started to circulate. It felt like a betrayal of my own principles.
Deadpool & Wolverine is unfortunately a disappointment, but Hugh Jackman delivers across the board
Can I and should I look forward to Jackman’s return? Especially after the extremely disappointing experience I had with Spider-Man: No Way Home? Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man means the world to me and I have taken Andrew Garfield to my heart just as much. Her return to the MCU hurt all the more because she none of the cinematic qualities of the old Spidey movies.
Disney
Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine
Why should this be any different with Deadpool & Wolverine after the MCU has cultivated one of the most boring forms of blockbuster cinema for over 15 years? But secretly my anticipation and curiosity grewto see Jackman again in this role that was tailor-made for him. The bright yellow of the costume finally brought down the last domino of my resistance.
Where did I end up? Well, in its entirety, Deadpool & Wolverine did not make me very happy. Although I was incredibly fascinated by its creation, the film ends up being a superficial crossover event that simply leaves an incredible amount of potential lying on the ground. But what I enjoyed every second was Jackman’s return – including Madonna’s pop anthem Like a Prayer.
Hugh Jackman anchors a Marvel blockbuster that would otherwise simply disintegrate in the multiverse
Jackman plays Wolverine as if his departure were only yesterday. He devotedly conjures up an exaggerated version of the character who doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. Jackman knows full well that he has created a Marvel monument with Logan and is now returning back for a victory lapin which he lets out a Wolverine in a completely liberated way, which, despite all his grumpiness, is incredibly fun.
Disney
Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine knows full well its pop culture status as a multiversal Marvel blockbuster, and that applies equally to the inclusion of Wolverine. This is more than fan service, which concerns the accurate portrayal of a beloved comic book character: completely unleashed star power in perfect harmony with a defining role – goosebumps with every whisper, with every grim look.
In a franchise that keeps its new stars on a short leash, when I look at all the wasted talents in basically promising (villain) roles, the force with which Jackman’s Wolverine stirs up the dust in the Marvel desert is a welcome change. As cobbled together as the film seems, Jackman is present at every second. And ready to really extend his claws.
Deadpool & Wolverine has been running since July 24, 2024 in German cinemas.