While it didn’t set the US box office on fire, this past summer’s The Wolverine was a gigantic hit overseas, making it the second highest grossing entry in the X-Men franchise. Naturally, 20th Century Fox locked up the film’s director James Mangold for the sequel and now, star Hugh Jackman is telling us that they have some “really cool ideas” for the follow-up.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jackman said the following:
I was on the phone with Jim Mangold last night. There are some really cool ideas that I’m dying to tell you, but that would be giving away a secret that is not even [fully] formed yet.
There’s no script or timetable yet for The Wolverine 2 (or whatever the title ends up being), and a lot of it probably hinges on the plot of next summer’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, so we’re not likely to get more details on the film until next May, at the earliest.
A lot of rumors surrounding the sequel have focused on whether or not Jackman will want to reprise his role, since he has not been contractually obligated to work on anything in the franchise since the first two X-Men films. Luckily, the actor explained that process to Entertainment Weekly in greater detail, telling them that playing the character has been a great experience.
I started with a two-picture deal on the first two [X-Men films], and from that point on, it’s been movie by movie — not just me, but Fox and Jim and everyone. I do want to do it with Jim and with [producer] Lauren Shuler-Donner because we had such a great experience. I’m really proud of The Wolverine.
He then went on to say that the franchise’s consistent loyalty to fans is what keeps him coming back:
I don’t want to dive into another one until we have a compelling reason to do another one. I love the character, he’s kind of like a best friend to me, and I don’t ever want to take [him] or the fans for granted. … I think we’ve got a great opportunity to make something really cool, but it has to be great. That’s what we’re all working toward.
While further news is not likely to break until after next summer’s release of X-Men: Days of Future Past, it certainly can’t hurt to speculate. Tell us, what do you hope for in a sequel to The Wolverine? Let us know in the comments section below!