Daniel Radcliffe has admitted that he helped spread rumors about his role as Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hugh Jackman has been portraying Wolverine/Logan since the year 2000, and viewers have grown to love Jackman’s portrayal over the course of the X-Men films. For years, it was assumed that Jackman’s final outing as the hero would’ve been 2017’s Logan, which, set in the future, saw Jackman’s version of the hero die definitively and Jackman initially retire from the role.
In Jackman’s absence, many speculated on some other actors for a possible future Wolverine reboot, with rumors of Daniel Radcliffe being cast as the mutant circulating frequently in recent years. Radcliffe has started playing a variety of roles and created an impressive range since the end of the Harry Potter franchise. Early this year, Radcliffe mentioned that he couldn’t imagine measuring up to Jackman, but then added, “But who can say? Marvel, prove me wrong “indicating his apparent interest in the part Despite the rumors, Jackman’s return as Wolverine and entry into the MCU with Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool 3 was revealed this year, thrilling Jackman’s fans and effectively putting an end to Radcliffe speculation.
During an interview with GQ, Radcliffe addressed rumors that he was in talks to act Wolverine. Though he stated that he is open to joining another major franchise after Harry Potter, he made clear that there was never any truth to those reports, which he admits were fueled at times by his answers during press tours, albeit unintentionally. Check out what the actor had to say about it below:
“It’s purely a press tour rumor; I say something, and then occasionally I get bored of answering that way, so I say something different, and that sets it off again. I should just never open my mouth.”
How Might Daniel Radcliffe’s Role As Wolverine Impact The Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Due to the measures taken by the MCU to ensure secrecy during production, many actors have been badgered about their involvement in upcoming projects, putting them in a difficult position where both their comments and lack thereof can be taken out of context and used to fuel rumors. It’s understandable that Radcliffe wanted to break the monotony and shake up his answers every now and then, but it’s amusing that he inadvertently added more chaos in the process. If Radcliffe had replaced Jackman in the MCU, his height would have been closer that of the comics character, but viewers would likely struggle to adjust to Radcliffe as Wolverine after Jackman’s two-decade run.
While fans of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine are thrilled to see the beloved character return to the official Marvel cinematic universe, Radcliffe would have been an unique and interesting choice had there been actual casting discussions. Radcliffe’s Wolverine could have emphasized characteristics from the comics that Jackman’s Wolverine ultimately outgrew, such as his ferocity, unpredictability, and wild nature. Radcliffe’s age will indeed make him a younger edition of Wolverine, increasing the likelihood that those characteristics would be displayed. Though Daniel Radcliffe’s take on a fresh-faced and feral Wolverine in the MCU would be interesting, seeing Jackman officially join the franchise and finally interact with Deadpool in his third film will be a true highlight of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 6.
Source: GQ