Escape claws
Jackman brings Wolverine journey to end with ‘Logan’
For Hugh Jackman, “Logan” brings the Oscarnominated Aussie back for a final bow in his signature role of Wolverine, the Adamantium-clawed mutant.
Wolverine, aka James Howlett, aka Logan, made Jackman, 48, a superstar in the 2000 film “X-Men.” He’s subsequently played the role in stand-alone and “X-Men” movies.
Now was the time to say farewell with Wolverine’s mutant recuperative powers diminishing alongside his fighting abilities.
“Logan” sees him plan retirement aboard a boat with his longtime mentor, the now Alzheimer’s afflicted Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart).
But it’s not to be when he agrees to ferry a Mexican child (Dafne Keen) north to safety in Canada.
“When I saw the movie I was very nervous knowing what was at stake for me, and it exceeded my expectations,” Jackman said at the recent Berlin Film Festival, where “Logan” had its world premiere.
“There were moments where I weeped in places, like carrying Charles. I love that you have a superhero movie where you have him taking care of an ailing father-type figure, where they’re in a car and going to run out of gas and my phone is out of a charge. You know, the day to day.
“These were moments where I thought, I love that character! I can’t say I’ll miss him. It’s difficult to describe; it’s not going anywhere for me. It will always live here,” he said, pointing to his heart.
Smiling, he added, “The fans will remind me every single day whether we got it right or wrong. It’s part of who I am and it’s a journey I’m so, so grateful for.”
Jackman and director James Mangold said they wanted “Logan” to be a movie that speaks to its global audience, not on the now-topical subject of immigrants but on screen violence.
“It’s most important that movies that are franchises with these huge audiences use that platform to do something other than to sell Happy Meals, but ask interesting questions,” the director said.
“When there is in a film, we should show consequences and that is — violence lives end. And they don’t come back. That is the consequence of violence, which is too often ignored.”
“I hope,” Jackman added, “it does make people think more importantly about violence: The effect of it, the aftermath of it. I hope that
resonates.”