Word is X-Men‘s Wolverine is getting some new moves. Freshman mutants in the movie franchise, like Angel and Beast, hog all the buzz these days, but don’t expect the vet to sit on the sidelines filing his claws. In fact, Hugh Jackman, who plays the hotheaded, cigar-smoking superhero, recently told Entertainment Weekly’s Neil Drumming that X-Men 3, directed by Brett Ratner and opening May 26, will roll out a much more refined Wolvie.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What’s different about Wolverine 3.0?
HUGH JACKMAN: We tried to incorporate a little more of some of the artwork of the comics into Wolverine’s fighting style. I was very adamant at the beginning in 1 and 2 — I used to watch tapes of Mike Tyson — and I was like, I don’t want it to be pretty. I don’t want it to be martial arts. I don’t want him to be anything other than, like, a street fighter. He doesn’t fight for the sake of fighting. If he can take someone’s head off in the first punch, he’ll take it off. Simon [Crane, stunt coordinator for Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Troy, and both Tomb Raiders] kind of convinced me and we worked on some styles of incorporating some of the artwork in the comics, which is a little stylized, more to use what his strength is — which is [that he's] small. Me, I’m actually a tall man, so that took a little training and I worked hard on that.
So here’s the big question: Will fans of the comic book be satisfied — especially since Brett Ratner is new to the franchise?
Oh, yeah. There’s a lot of things we really tried to get in 1 and 2 which — I don’t mean to be blunt — were just real expensive and we couldn’t get them in until 1 and 2 were so successful. So there’s some sequences there that the fans — if you go to that midnight screening on the first night, they’ll just be going ballistic. There’s some specific choreography, famous fighting moves, that we use in this movie that we haven’t been able to do before.
The fans have been the foundation of the success of this movie and they’re never forgotten. Trust me. No decision is made without considering the history of each character. You don’t want to come in and just rewrite the history books. And let’s face it: If I do a disservice to Wolverine, I can easily be spat on in the street.
What’s up with a possible Wolverine spin-off?
I’m into it. We’re actually working on a script. X-Men is an ensemble movie, even if some characters are in it more than others. It’s about the X-Men. I love playing the part. I think it’s the best part going around. I may be biased, but I think there’s so much still to be mined, still to be learned from that [character]. I think it will stand up to a feature-length movie. And we’ve had some really amazing interests from some great filmmakers and great writers also really intrigued by the character.
Would you consider writing it yourself?
I will always put my input in from the actor’s point of view. At this point I feel like I know the character, from some perspective, incredibly well, so I will always have a lot to say. But no.
I think Hugh Jackmans great, but no way am I paying money to watch a Brett Ratner movie, how does this hack get so much work anyway?
Hugh Jackman has a lot to do with the production of the movie and they are keeping a lot of what bryan singer has done for the franchise. I personally thought bryan singer did everything he could and i am glad they brought somebody else in maybe take the movie in a little bit of different direction. look at what Mike Newell did for Harry Potter. There is nothing wrong with a new director.
If all the ppl from the actual movie r sayin that Brett Ratner is doing a good job i will definetly go see it. Evry interview ive seen from ppl from the movie r sayin his doin a gr8 job so maybe this could be a turnin point 4 his career.
I will say Hugh Jackman is perfect as Wolverine no matter. No one can replace him as wolverine and also he will do a fantastic job in Wolverine movie. Good luck Hugh Jackman and don’t quit being wolverine because I love you as wolverine.
Hugh Jackman was born to play the role of wolverine and NOONE could do it better. The same goes for patrick stewart was born to play prof. Xavier. And I think that Kelsey Grammer well be really good for Beast because he is known for his intellegence and big word useage. But as for the movie. It may be better or worse with brett at the helm. But no matter what anyone says, if you are a true x-men you will go see this movie. I will be there atleast three or four times. Love live the x-men saga.
I had doubts about Ratner, too, but he’s done a good job with “Prison Break.” He’s the exec producer on that show, and directed the 2 hour pilot.
I’m an X-Men fan, but Brett Ratner is just such a mediocre director, it really annoys me that they gave one of their hottest properties to one of the biggest hacks in Hollywood. I will not pay to see it, I’m not helping Ratner get any richer, but maybe I’ll buy a ticket to a different movie and sneak in. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong, but if history is any guide, I doubt it.
This movie will be the best movie ever. Hoping it gets at least 2 hours and 20 minutes of runtime. Of course i’d llike to see a 5 hour movie. Can’t personally wait to see some Psylocke, Colossus, Beast, Angel action. Shadowcat seems to have a big role now. I wanna see Rogue absorb some crazy mutant power and show off some of her skill. Stupid X2, she only absorbed Pyro’s power….ooooh, wow….good job, Rogue. This looks like a COMIC book movie. At first I liked what Bryan Singer had done, but now come to think of it, it’s too damn serious and not that much happened. It’s a good film from a non-comic book fan’s perspective, but I was always hardcore X-men. I think this is Brett Ratner’s turning point *fingers crossed*
Joel Schumacher is to Batman
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Brett Ratner is to _________
This is gonna be great. I’m so pumped for this movie, it’s actually part of the reason I’m alive. To see this movie. If they stop making X-men movies I don’t know what I’ll do. Find a new obsession I guess. I’ve been thinking for months now that Brett Ratner has been getting a bad rap for no good reason. He might not have the visual flair of someone like Alex Proyas or David Fincher, but every movie I’ve seen of his was pretty good. I’m guessing that he hasen’t had the freedom to get too creative with the scripts or look of the movies he’s done so far, hopefully I’m right and he proves to everyone he can hit this one out of the park.
When I saw the Rush hour guy was doing X3 I was freaked out, but then I remembered he also did Red Dragon. The guy has the ability to do a serious film. I though Michael Keaten would be a lousy Batman too, but he turned out to be great. I’m gona have an open mind and check this one out. As a true fan I owe it to the franchise to keep this thing alive. Just one peice of advise to Mr. Ratner, two words bub, “Fastball Special!”
The things I’ve read about this movie make me think of the cover to Uncanny X-Men #142: “In this issue, EVERYONE DIES!” You have been warned…
I hope that the film will be good, because I loved the first 2 movies, and I like the comic books. But I worry as the list of mutants keeps growing. How do you adaquately service so many characters, old and new, in one movie? I hope Brett Ratner doesn’t sacrafice story for spectacle…
people should keep things in perspective. i really like singer (i saw usual suspects twice in the theater), but x-men 1 was serviceable, while 2 was good at action, but dull overall. i loved seeing nightcrawler and collosus, i must admit, but that wasn’t singer, it was a great fx department. as for ratner, rush hour was watchable, red dragon was decent… possibly he can do it.
my biggest disappointment was wolverine, he was tall, and not hairy (i remember being amazed as a kid at how damn hairy he was…hollywood couldn’t take it i guess). also, jackman plays him as a person, not a character struggling to be a person… re: his comments about his fighting style; wolverine is a samurai, which is the balance to his animal side…play him with elegant rage. it’s not the watering down of the character that bothers me, it is that the movie would be legitimately better if they used the writing of 80′s claremont or whedon or even morrisson as the base for the characters. i understand that the public is apathetic. too bad.
I love love love Hugh Jackman, and i am absolutley dieing(sp) to see X3, i honestly don’t give a damb about Brett Ratner, Ratner or no Ratner this is going to be an amazing movie.
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