It’s finally happening, over two decades later: Hugh Jackman is back into the role that defined Wolverine in Avengers: Secret Wars from May 7, 2027. The news has caused an excited stir among fans, many of whom had not thought they would live to see the day that Jackman was back doing the iconic role after he tearfully said goodbye to the character in Logan back in 2017. With the MCU literally going through the roof during this multiverse saga, it’s pretty clear that Jackman’s return is going to be one of those pivotal moments in MCU history.
Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, finally announced Jackman’s return in the recent announcement he made at the Disney APAC Content Showcase held in Singapore. During his speech, Feige did not name Jackman but gave strong signals toward recognizable faces from the X-universe across into the MCU, including Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine-one of the icons in the superhero genre for 24 years.
But that’s not all there is to this story-just a mere return to the role. According to sources close to Marvel, Jackman agreed to come back on one condition: he wanted to interact with some of MCU’s biggest legends, including Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man. This union of fan-favorite characters-many of whom have headlined their own universes on the big screen-should be a testament to Marvel’s commitment to weaving together its multiverse storyline in Secret Wars.
Avengers: Secret Wars is going to be, quite literally, a monumental chapter in the MCU for not only Jackman’s Wolverine but the greater MCU in general. X-Men will finally find their way into the MCU, which is something the fans have begged for since the beginning of time. Wolverine is supposed to be one of the main pieces in this transition with his rugged charm and brutal fighting ways.
For one, the multiverse theme of Marvel being lengthily explored in the most recent films, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man: No Way Home, is basically the perfect platform on which Jackman’s Wolverine could very well meet and interact with characters from other realities. Such crossovers will definitely be a highlight, if one considers that Secret Wars is bound to bring together heroes across timelines and universes.
After the mania that ensued from his surprise showing in Deadpool 3, the idea of seeing Jackman’s Wolverine interact with MCU staples is certainly exciting. The eventuality of Wolverine’s crossover into the rest of the MCU-especially the Avengers-causes waves throughout the Marvel fandom in anticipation.
The good news for the fans is that, with Secret Wars, the return of Jackman may not necessarily be his last outing. The truth is, the film represents an important cross point in the saga of the multiverse, but there are hints that he might go beyond this epic crossover. At least from what can be read in insider reports, a role of this size logically can extend into future movies of MCU, especially now that his chemistry in Deadpool 3 with Ryan Reynolds seems to be so good.
That dynamic between Wolverine and Deadpool, balanced between humor and action, could be a big part of why Jackman remains involved with the MCU. The sequel to Deadpool and Wolverine is something fans of Marvel have wished for, and perhaps the success of Deadpool 3 will set the stage for that dream to unfold.
But with all the excitement, it would seem, through rumor, there is a very strong suggestion that Jackman’s Wolverine will not be part of an X-Men reboot. This could mean his character stays in a different universe from the new mutant world Marvel is trying to build, and in such a way, the role of Jackman could be an anchor for the multiverse saga rather than being part of an overall reboot. In this way, he could be one of those bridges between the older and newer X-Men and give the fans the opportunity for some closure with his Wolverine, but at the same time, still allow an ever-changing cast for mutant stories.
