Dafne Keen Bruised Hugh Jackman’s Shoulder During Logan Auditions

Logan has definitely been making waves on the big screen, bending the superhero genre and giving it a more grounded tone as it marks Hugh Jackman's final run as Wolverine, and as Patrick Stewart's final film as Professor X. Newcomer Dafne Keen also did well in the film, holding her ground as she starred alongside X-Men veterans.

Speaking with CBR,Logan director James Mangold decided to divulge Keen's little quirks that caught his eye and helped her nab the role.

"The first introduction was this tape I got of her climbing around on bookshelves at their house and prowling around lounge chairs and doing a somersault or two," said Mangold. "And then she did some scenes from the movie and all I can tell you is, I felt like I had written with my writing partners a stool with three legs. I knew one leg was Hugh Jackman and one leg was Patrick Stewart, but I had no idea who was going to be this third leg and they needed to be between 10 and 12 years old, bilingual, physically talented and an amazing actress."

The publication also spoke with Keen who recounted her audition in New York. During one of the scenes during the test, Mangold revealed that the young actress had ended up giving Jackman a giant bruise on the shoulder after being asked to punch Jackman in the face.

"I remember when I went and the first day I met him and I didn't really know who he was until after the first day I met you [James] and I went to the hotel and they were like, ‘So what was the director like?' And I was like, ‘That guy was the director?' And then, Hugh was really nice to me the first day. I was very nervous. I was jumping around the hotel room," Keen recalled with a laugh.

"That was one of the scenes we did in New York and I kept encouraging [Dafne] to get crazier and crazier in that scene, and I think Hugh ended the day with a giant bruise on his shoulder," Mangold added.

Given her spirited performance in Logan, Mangold definitely made the right choice picking Keene to play the part of X-23. The director also did a good job training the girl to let loose as well – the intensity in those growls and shouts and screams in the film could definitely be felt.

Logan is currently showing in theaters.

Read: Logan Production Explains Why Professor X's Tragic Flashback Was Deleted