by After playing the iconic Wolverine for over 15 years across 9 films, Hugh Jackman returned one last time to unleash the feral mutant’s berserker rage in Logan. The 2017 film offered a never-before-seen take on the clawed Canuck – older, weary, and slowly dying.
No longer the invincible hero, Logan showcases a vulnerable side to the character not often explored in superhero films. And for Jackman, this was a refreshing change of pace and a chance to dive deeper into Wolverine’s psyche.
In interviews about the film, Jackman extolled many traits he admires about Logan in his solo swan song. Let’s discuss the key qualities that drew Hugh Jackman to this version of Wolverine.
The Depth of an Aged Anti-Hero
Unlike the seemingly immortal heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Logan faces his own mortality. Being well over 100 years old, his healing factor which has staved off death for so long is steadily fading.
Jackman embraced this opportunity to showcase a more human side to the icon. Audiences had never seen the character so physically and emotionally vulnerable before, pushing his berserker rage to its limits. The actor said:
“We’ve seen the invincible Wolverine. And now we get to see the vulnerable Wolverine… We get to see him struggling with what it is to be human.”
This mortal coil he faces makes Wolverine far wearier than his past crusading days. Jackman plays him as a despondent loner, eking out a meager existence as a limo driver.
Gone is the wise-cracking swagger and derring-do. All that’s left inside is regret and pain, numbed only by booze. This realistic portrayal of Logan as an anti-hero down on his luck offered Jackman the chance to emote depths scarcely seen in his previous outings as the character.
The Weight of Responsibility and Legacy
Not only is Logan facing his own mortality but also the pressure to uphold his legacy. As mutants teeter closer to extinction, he becomes a guardian for Laura, his genetic daughter who represents the next generation.
This sense of responsibility towards Laura gives Logan an added layer of emotional conflict. Jackman spoke about how fatherhood shifted his perspective to better understand Logan’s arc in the film:
“5 or 6 years ago, prior to having a child of my own, I’m not sure how in touch I would have been with that part of the storyline… Having my own family and knowing what that adds to your life, what you will do for that next generation, that was one of the keys to me understanding where Logan was at.”
No longer wanting to remain in isolation, Logan is forced back into duty. Protecting Laura gives Logan an opportunity to pass the torch – cementing his legacy as a valiant X-Man before he shuffles off this mortal coil.
The Redemption of a Tarnished Hero
Logan also offers much desired redemption. The Wolverine of old is filled with regret over questionable choices past. Having endured so much violence and suffering, he has little hope left not just for himself but for his fellow mutants.
Shepherding Laura towards safety becomes his last crusade for redemption. And Jackman took to heart this poignant story arc, saying:
“I remember getting the script for Logan and I was immediately struck by the storyline of a man who’s been struggling with the darker parts of himself for centuries. And the idea that his final journey could be one of redemption.”
In his final act of heroism, Logan saves Laura and her fellow young mutants – succeeding where he failed so many times before. Finding purpose again as a mentor figure, he puts the safety of his genetic offspring over his own – proving he still has nobility left inside.
Jackman found portraying this complex arc extremely gratifying. Exploring Logan’s personal regrets and path towards redemption allowed the character to come full circle before his emotional swan song.
The Physicality of an Aging Anti-Hero
Logan may be slowly dying but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous. Even with his powers rapidly declining, he still possesses his razor sharp adamantium claws that cut through nearly anything.
And Jackman continued his impressive feats of strength to convey Logan’s imposing physicality. Despite playing him at his oldest age yet, he still performed many rigorous stunts himself.
Packed with gritty action sequences, Logan pushed Jackman more than ever. Whether engaging in close-quarters brawling or attacking with unbridled rage, Logan feels more feral than ever.
The actor continued his intense workout regime to become a living weapon. Training for months before shooting, he deadlifted nearly 400 pounds to bulk out his frame. Followed by a strict diet to shred body fat, all in preparation for his hyper-physical swan song as Wolverine.
On portraying Logan’s imposing physicality once more, Jackman said:
“This character requires a lot physically to play him properly. That couldn’t be compromised… This is a very physical role and I wanted to go out on a high note.”
And indeed Hugh Jackman finished his tenure as the character with a bang – and plenty of snikt! Audiences hadn’t seen a fight scene as brutal as Logan’s climactic berserker mode in years.
The Humanity of an Immortal Mutant
At the core of Logan’s nuanced depiction lies his inherent humanity. While society views him as more animal than man, Wolverine showcases he has as much heart as anyone else despite his gruff exterior.
In one of the film’s most poignant scenes, Logan shares an intimate family dinner with Laura and her friends. Seeing genuine warmth and compassion exuded from the weathered warrior during this moment proved to be Jackman’s favorite scene, saying:
“My favorite scene in the movie is… where they all settle in and have dinner together. And I just love that scene because you see Logan in repose, in a way you hardly ever see him… Where his guard is down, he’s relaxed and his humanity is on display.”
By showcasing instances like this where Logan unveils his empathy and kindness, it re-grounds his humanity despite outwardly appearing more beast than man.
And ultimately, even with all Logan’s external attributes as a warrior – his retractable claws, a metal-laced skeleton, and explosive rage – Hugh Jackman sees the character’s humanity as his defining trait.
In an interview he remarked:
“Out of all the things I love about Logan, the human side to him has always been the key.”
This duality of Wolverine as both animal and human is what has kept audiences invested for decades. And no film explored that better than Logan – Jackman’s gritty, emotional swan song portrayal that finally gave fans the Wolverine they deserved.
The Never-ending Appeal of Wolverine
Love for Hugh Jackman’s rendition of Wolverine hasn’t wavered since he first donned the mutton chops seventeen years ago. Despite appearing in so many X-Men films over nearly two decades, demand for everyone’s favorite clawed Canuck never faded.
That enduring appeal comes down to Jackman’s nuanced performance. He leans into all facets of Logan – whether as a fierce warrior unleashing adamantium fury or as a conflicted lone wolf grappling with his inner humanity.
As Jackman says:
“For me, Wolverine is the ultimate anti-hero… He has attitude, edge, and darkness to him. And whoever plays him needs to embrace that and not shy away from it.”
By fully committing to even Wolverine’s most primal elements, Jackman captured the complex essence of the feral mutant audiences love.
Logan Represents a Fitting Send-off
After nine films playing the character, Hugh Jackman accomplished his mission – conveying every compelling aspect that makes Wolverine one of Marvel’s most iconic anti-heroes. And he saved the most in-depth portrayal for last with Logan.
The film represented a chance to peel back the layers on Wolverine like never before. Audiences saw past the surface of his hard edged exterior and into the soul of the man. They witnessed his inner turmoil fully realized up on screen.
Thanks to Jackman’s nuanced performance, old man Logan feels tangible and real. Fans witnessed a vulnerable side as he struggled against his own mortality. His responsibility as a father figure and protector imbued the story with emotional resonance. And Jackman unleashed an explosive physicality despite playing an aging, dying mutant.
Logan culminating with Wolverine’s death offered the most poignant and poetic end for Jackman’s titanic tenure as the character. And he knew ending his run this way would prove divisive yet unforgettable, saying:
“I knew this would be the boldest move, the most risky, unexpected and audacious way to go out.”
Yet, that risk paid off ten-fold. Logan is considered one of the greatest superhero films ever made thanks to its grounded emotional storytelling and showcasing of Wolverine at his most savage.
It serves as a gritty, heart-wrenching love letter to the character. And for Hugh Jackman, he wouldn’t have had it any other way. Logan cemented his legacy playing a character etched into pop culture forever. Not bad for a guy wielding razor sharp claws!
