Hugh Jackman forever linked with ‘Wolverine’

Photo by Leandro Novais (leofiger), via deviantART

Francisco Rivero/Sports Director

There are actors that are forever linked with their charterers, such as Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and now Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

On July 26, “The Wolverine” hit theaters worldwide and opened with over $53 million in North America and earned another $91 million overseas, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com. The film’s opening week has already surpassed the $120 million it cost to make, earning over $160 million with the domestic and foreign box offices combined.

For Jackman, he expressed just how much fun he is having playing the role of Wolverine in an interview with FOX411.

“I’ve been around long enough in this business to know great parts like this don’t come along very often,” Jackman said to FOX411. “As long as the part continues to grow and let’s face it, the audience still wants to see it; I don’t see any reason to give it up. I’m having more fun now than I ever have.”

Jackman has worn the metal claws more than Robert Downey Jr. has donned his Iron Man armor or more than Tobey Maguire spinning his webs through New York City. Jackman is going on his seventh tour of duty playing the role of Wolverine, but unlike most actors who don’t want to play one part for too long, Jackman relishes the moment.

However, playing the role of Wolverine also means that the actor must be in top physical condition and that is the one part of being Wolverine that Jackman isn’t too happy about.

“Trust me I would never be in this shape, not in a million years,” Jackman said to FOX411. “There’s no way I’m waking up and working out for three hours a day unless I was getting to play this part, but it’s a great motivation.”

There is no question, however, that the role of Wolverine has skyrocketed Jackman and his acting career. In a sit-down with CBS news, Jackman explains just how impactful the role of Wolverine was to his career.

“There are four or five roles that end up being the foundation of your entire career. There’s no doubt to me that this (Wolverine) is one of them.”

When asked by CBS why is it that he keeps coming back to play the role of Wolverine, Jackman simply stated that it’s the character himself that keeps bringing him back.

“On one level you can say I’m playing a guy with weird hair and claws coming out of his hands, but actually he’s incredibly human and a great sort of anti-hero and tragic figure,” Jackman said to CBS. “That’s why he’s eternally fascinating to me and that’s why I keep coming back.”

Jackman is so in love with his character that he has even gone as far as to say he wants Wolverine to be involved in the upcoming “Avengers 2” film during a sit-down interview with Collider.com.

“I would love to…I’m in for it, I’m totally up for it because I think that would be really exciting for fans across the board,” Jackman said to Collider.com. “I just find it almost impossible that there’s not a way to bring Iron Man, all the Avengers characters, Wolverine, the X-Men characters, Spider-Man, and somehow get them in together.”

As much as every Marvel fan would love to see Jackman and his character team up with Iron Man and the rest of the Avengers, that is something that fans will just have to wait and see.

It’s hard to see anyone else don the claws of Wolverine that isn’t Jackman, but everything doesn’t last forever. Just like Spiderman, Superman and Batman, Wolverine will eventually be played by another actor, but for now, Jackman will continue to play the role as long as the fans demand it.

francisco.rivero@fiusm.com

Sources:

1. “The Wolverine,” via BoxOffixeMojo.com

2. “Hugh Jackman says he’ll play ‘Wolverine’ as long as fans want him to,” via FOX News

3. “Hugh Jackman calls “Wolverine” a career-defining role,” via CBS News

4.  “Hugh Jackman Talks THE WOLVERINE, Wanting to Fight Beside The Avengers & Spider-Man, PRISONERS, His HOUDINI Broadway Musical, and Much More,” via Collider.com