Hold on to your adamantium claws, folks! What if Hugh Jackman's Wolverine sticks around in the MCU after all the dust settles from Avengers: Secret Wars? It sounds crazy, right? But with the Multiverse cracking open and fan demand at an all-time high, let's dive into some comic book storylines that could become the next big Wolverine adventure on the big screen.
Marvel Studios is planning a full X-Men reboot post-Secret Wars, that much is clear. But the whispers (or should we say, snikts?) persist: Hugh Jackman might not be hanging up the claws anytime soon. He first embodied the character back in 2000, and some argue he is Wolverine.
As of this writing, nothing is set in stone. But think about it: Deadpool & Wolverine proved Jackman's still a massive box office draw. His popularity is only going to skyrocket after Avengers: Doomsday. It seems Kevin Feige and a whole lot of fans aren't ready to say goodbye. But here's where it gets controversial... is it really the best move for the MCU? Let's leave that for the comments.
So, assuming Jackman's Wolverine is here to stay in some capacity, let's explore some comic book stories that could be adapted or, at the very least, heavily inspire his next chapter in the "Mutant Saga."
Let's slice right in:
8. Enemy of the State:
Imagine Wolverine, brainwashed by HYDRA, turned into a weapon against his fellow heroes. That's the premise of "Enemy of the State." Logan is sent on missions to hunt down superheroes and, tragically, even kill Northstar, a fellow X-Man. When he finally breaks free from HYDRA's control, he unleashes a brutal quest for revenge, even using a Sentinel to take out a group of ninjas and battling the seemingly invincible Gorgon.
Deadpool & Wolverine reignited the world's love for Logan, but let's face it, we've seen a lot of him. And this is the part most people miss... Simply rehashing old ground won't cut it.
Sending him on a rampage through the MCU, pitting him against Captain America, the Fantastic Four, and more, would be a major event. It would also give Jackman a far meatier role than just brief team-ups in Avengers movies. Think about the dramatic potential! This story could also explore the moral complexities of mind control and the struggle for redemption.
7. Mister X:
Mister X is a chilling villain: a wealthy businessman addicted to killing, marking his body with scars for each life he takes, similar in some ways to Batman's Victor Zsasz, but with a mutant twist. Wolverine encounters him in a Madripoor fighting tournament (a location with a rich history in the X-Men comics), where Logan is forced to compete. Mister X has the mutant ability to psychically predict his opponents' movements. Initially outmatched, Wolverine unleashes his berserker rage to defeat him.
The Madripoor setting, briefly seen in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, offers a vibrant, gritty backdrop. Imagine a tournament filled with familiar faces from the Marvel universe! This could be the perfect place to reintroduce Wolverine, kicking off his MCU journey with a brutal, action-packed story. Perhaps this can be where we pick up with Wolverine as his MCU story begins anew?
6. Savage Wolverine:
Written and drawn by Frank Cho, Savage Wolverine throws Logan into the Savage Land, a prehistoric jungle teeming with dinosaurs and mutated creatures (an iconic Marvel location the MCU hasn't explored yet). He teams up with Shanna the She-Devil, but here's the catch: instead of a romantic connection, they spend the story constantly irritating each other. This creates a fun, unique dynamic that would be great to see on screen.
A Savage Land setting allows Wolverine to cut loose (literally!) against monstrous enemies, showcasing his raw power. It's a pulpy, action-packed tale with a fresh take on the character. This story could take place in any time period, making it a flexible option for introducing the Savage Land. And yes, it needs to be R-rated to capture the true brutality of the setting and Wolverine's character.
5. Get Mystique:
Mystique was a staple of the Fox X-Men movies, and some fans might be tired of her. But the MCU could offer a fresh take on the shapeshifting mutant. Why not give her a supporting role in a Wolverine project? In Get Mystique, Logan hunts her down after she betrays the X-Men. The story unfolds with both mutants constantly trying to outmaneuver each other, while flashbacks reveal their shared history in the 1920s.
They were a Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque duo on a robbery spree in Kansas. This could be a fun way to explore the history of both characters in a time period the MCU hasn't really touched on. There's potential for a stylish, action-packed period piece with two complex characters at its core.
4. Wolverine & Kitty Pryde:
Fox had plans for a Kitty Pryde spin-off, which were scrapped after the Disney merger. But a movie pairing Shadowcat with her father figure/mentor, Wolverine, would be a great way to highlight one of the strongest female characters in comics. After Kitty follows her father to Tokyo, believing he's being harassed by the Yakuza, Wolverine sets out to find her. He discovers she's been brainwashed by Ogun, one of his former samurai trainers.
By exploring their relationship, we'd get a Wolverine movie that feels fresh and different. Kitty, now known as Kate, is one of the best X-Men characters, and hopefully she'll have a bright future in the MCU. And don't forget, Ogun's existence in this shared world was teased in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier... This could be a clever way to tie different corners of the MCU together.
3. Nitro:
While the X-Men stayed out of the superhuman Civil War in the comics, Wolverine took it upon himself to hunt down Nitro, the villain responsible for the explosion that killed sixty children and around 600 people at a school in Stamford, Connecticut.
We've already had a "Civil War" in the MCU, so instead, Nitro could be a mutant responsible for a similar disaster, perhaps wiping out a group of young mutant superheroes. Wolverine is always at his best when hunting down an enemy, and this story has huge potential. This feels like a story Jackman's Wolverine would be particularly well-suited for, perhaps even touching on some of the themes and ideas surrounding the hero's immortality that James Mangold didn't have room for in Logan.
2. Wolverine and the X-Men:
The Fox X-Men movies rarely tried anything new, explaining why Magneto was a villain in every one. But what if Wolverine led the team? X-Men '97 was a hit by showing characters like Cyclops and Magneto leading the team, but what about Wolverine? If he's the only mutant from the Multiverse left on the new Sacred Timeline when all is said and done - and even if he's just older than his young teammates - why not make him the team leader or, better yet, Headmaster?
This happened in the comics when the team split into two factions. Taking on Professor X's old role was a learning curve for Logan and would be a fascinating new dynamic for Jackman to explore after playing this character for so long. Imagine Wolverine as the grumpy, reluctant mentor, forced to guide a new generation of mutants. It's a recipe for both comedy and drama.
1. All-New, All-Different Wolverine:
When Logan died in the comics, X-23, his clone, stepped up to take his place as the All-New Wolverine. Seeing how Laura adapted to the mantle was compelling, and the 2015 comic series also introduced her previously unseen clone sisters. One of them, Gabby, even became Laura's sidekick. This is something that would be well worth exploring in a future movie. Dafne Keen should obviously reprise the role, though we'd like to see Jackman's Wolverine serving as her mentor.
Not only would this allow the actor to step back into a supporting role, but it would also give the MCU a young new Wolverine, unlike anything we've seen on screen before. And fans would surely be invested in her story, seeing as it began way back in 2017's Logan. This allows the franchise to continue with a new generation, similar to how Miles Morales took over as Spider-Man in the comics.
So, what do you think? Which of these storylines would you love to see adapted for the MCU? Do you agree that Hugh Jackman should continue as Wolverine, or is it time for someone new to take up the mantle? Let us know in the comments below!
