The X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie felt like a mystery as fuzzy as the famed comic book antihero's past. That is, until the official Wolverine Movie Trailer was released, sparking excitement and fan fervor across the internet. The much anticipated fourth X-Men live action film is slated for release May 1, 2009.
Hugh Jackman Returns to Wolverine Role
Hugh Jackman, a relative unknown compared to other big names such as Halle Berry and Patrick Stewart when he was cast as Wolverine in the first X-Men movie (2000). Jackman proved to skeptical fans and audiences alike that he possesses the grit and fury behind the complicated mutant's claws. Hugh Jackson, freshly dubbed People magazine's Sexiest Man of the Year, brings back the character that made him famous in the latest X-Men movie.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the first spinoff using an original cast member from the highly successful X-Men trilogy. Hugh Jackman carries the film without any other X-Men film alumni. Instead Jackman's Wolverine is joined onscreen by Liev Shreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Danny Huston, will.i.am, and Dominic Monaghan.
Newcomers Write, Direct X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Director Gavin Hood and sreenwriter David Benioff, both new the comic book world, joined forces to bring Wolverine's story to the big screen. David Benioff's previous experience includes writing scripts for Troy and 25th Hour. Director Gavin Hood previously directed Rendition (2007) and his film Totsi (2005) won an Academy Award(TM) for Best Foreign Film.
"What appeals to me about the Wolverine character of all the other characters is that my feeling that he's the one that suffers from the most existential angst," Director Gavin Hood said in a 2007 interview.
Plot and Characters in the New Wolverine Movie
Interestingly, the main focus of X-Men Origin: Wolverine is Wolverine's mysterious past, something hasn't truly been revealed in the comics until recently. Wolverine, aka James Howlett, had a mysterious past before joinging the X-Men, which Professor X promised he would help Wolverine uncover if he agreed to join the team. Only recently have the details of Wolverine's early life and Weapon X days made their way into comics.
One thing fans are familiar with is Wolverine's tragic love story involving his Japanese bride Mariko. It's unclear how true the movie will stay to the comics, but Mariko and Wolverine's love story would be the perfect romantic touch to add to the effects-heavy action film.
Other plot points have yet to be revealed, however, fans can expect to see new X-Men characters grace the screen, including:
- Ryan Reynolds----Deadpool
- Taylor Kitsch---Remy LeBeau (Gambit)
- Frederick J. Dukes---The Blob
- Dominic Monaghan---Beak
Liev Schreiber is reincarnating Tyler Mane's Sabretooth role, while Tim Pocock is portraying Cyclops, instead of original Cyclops X-Men Alum James Marsden.
More X-Men Movies?
There is already talk of a Wolverine sequel though no script has been written. X-Men Origins: Magneto is slated for a tentative 2011 release, but is still hasn't yet been given the official green light. See other comic book movies.
