James Mangold Reveals His Original Idea For Logan

The idea of Hugh Jackman's final X-Men film as Wolverine stemmed from the theme of family. Logan co-writer and director James Mangold revealed it during an interview with ScreenRant this weekend at the press junket. Mangold was searching for the "family" dynamic for the film. Mangold says:

"A couple months after we wrapped, I had this idea, it was originally that Charles [Xavier] and Logan were hiding out in a Kentucky bourbon, an abandoned bourbon factory and that he was in a tank, an abandoned tank in a bourbon factory. The idea occurred to me to make a movie about family and the idea of using, I kept doing more and more research. The Greg Kyle "Innocence Lost" series about X-23 caught my attention and the idea of doing a movie in which we find Logan with a daughter seemed like a really interesting family dynamic – caring for ailing dad and then discovering you have a kid. Particularly for a character like Logan, who is so loathed to having any intimate connections with anyone, it seemed like the ultimate set of obstacles to put in front of him, much bigger than a super villain from another planet."

From Logan's early trailers, fans could tell that it's going to be a more character-driven story than other films featuring Wolverine. What better way to develop Jackman's character than to give him an internal struggle that's much bigger than a super villain?

Synopsis:

In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

Logan will be released in U.S. theaters on March 3, 2017.

Watch: X-23 Gets Operated in Hospital in This New Logan Clip