Fox Producer Says Disney Is Looking For Hugh Jackman’s Replacement As Wolverine

Fox is expecting Disney to resurrect Wolverine when the Mickey Mouse House incorporates the X-Men, Fantastic Four and all the other mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Hugh Jackman won't be reprising his role as James Howlett.

X-Men franchise producer Lauren Shuler Donner just recently spoke on a Television Critics Association panel (via ComicBook.com), and during the discussion, the producer says that the arrival of the mutants into the MCU wouldn't be enticing enough to tempt Jackman back into his suit as Wolverine.

According to Donner, Disney is currently aiming to replace Jackman with a younger actor for the role as the X-Men's adamantium-clawed regenerating mutant.

"Hugh, just the physicality of it all, just to bulk up," the producer explained in the discussion with the panel. "This man worked so hard to bulk up, would get up at four in the morning to bulk and eat protein meals every two hours because his natural state, they used to call him Worm when he was a kid. So his natural state is a very skinny guy. Once you reach a certain age, the body just won't go anymore. I think he was wise to say, ‘I'm at that point. I can't do it.' Now, that doesn't mean he can't come back as older Wolverine. You never know. Future Wolverine, you never know."

However, while Donner feels like Disney is going to find a new Wolverine for Marvel, the producer says that the determining the approach to finding a new actor for the role is yet to be decided by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

"I don't know what Kevin's thinking honestly. I don't even think Kevin knows," Donner said. "I think Kevin's still dealing with this wealth of characters and trying to make sense of them."

We can only wonder what kind of actor Disney might want to consider for their new Wolverine.

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