With thundering action, breathtaking stunts and a riveting, gritty storyline, Hugh Jackman returns as the iconic clawed mutant in THE WOLVERINE.

During the course of a dark and ominous journey, the thrilling 3D drama from acclaimed director James Mangold takes Logan/Wolverine to Tokyo where he is embroiled in a complex web of intrigue, confronting lethal samurai steel.

Full of that legendary berserker rage, Jackman infuses the most popular mutant from the X-MEN universe with power, depth and vulnerability.

The multi-talented actor sits down to discuss the film on the set in Sydney.

 

THE ACTION-FUELED, DEFINITIVE STORY OF ‘THE WOLVERINE’:

HUGH JACKMAN ONWHAT IT TAKES TO PLAY THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST AND MOST CONFLICTED ANTI-HERO ANDTHE TRUTH ABOUT THE MAN BEHIND THE CLAWS.

Ripped, rugged and hard as nails, the claws are out as Hugh Jackman returns in THE WOLVERINE. There is a sense of power and thrilling bravura to the new film as masterful director James Mangold (WALK THE LINE, 3:10 TO YUMA, KNIGHT AND DAY) explores the dark and brutal intensity of Logan/Wolverine’s torment. Highly dramatic and breathlessly exciting, THE WOLVERINE takes Logan from America where he has been living as a hermit, alone and withdrawn from civilization, to Tokyo where he is drawn inextricably into a twisted labyrinth of deceit and treachery. Out of his element in a culture that is entirely foreign to him, he confronts a host of formidably vicious and deadly adversaries from Yakuzato mobsters as well as ‘Viper’ and the legendary ‘Silver Samurai’. Healso faces his own inner demons and the bleak destiny that is inevitable for a man who is immortal. The action is visceral from start to finish and Hugh Jackman is at the height of his acting powers, portraying Wolverine with humanity but also inner conflict. He is a man with nothing left to lose.

Tormented, embarking on a quest to find meaning in his life, this is Wolverine’s ultimate journey and one which forces him to unleash that unbridled, animalistic ‘berserker’ rage in all its power and ferocity.

Q:  Can you discuss the premise of the film and what audiences can look forward to?

A: “This movie takes place a long time after X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, many years into the future. Wolverine is on a journey in a foreign land, a new world with completely new characters where he gradually comes out of himself and is forced to face who he is. He has to embrace his real nature. He can no longer hide away in a cave. This is definitely the most personal of all the stories about Wolverine. You find him as low as you will ever see him. At the beginning of the movie Wolverine is lost really, he has lost everyone in his life and he is now living on his own, away from the world. He is almost living like a hermit.  He’s not at peace with himself, with his own nature, with his claws, with anything.  It is as though his entire life upto this point has brought him nothing but misery, pain and destruction and he has reached a point at which he’s done with it.  But then he is reluctantly drawn into the world of Japan.  I can’t explain exactly why that happens; it’s got to do with something in his past.”

Q: You always undergo a rigorous training program to play Wolverine. How did you prepare physically this time?

A: “Personally I trained harder and started earlier. They beat me up all day in training! Even though the weapons and Wolverine’s claws are fake, you are always a fraction away from getting hurt. So you can’t miss your timing. I also ate more boringly and ate more than I’ve ever done before. Physically I wanted Wolverine to look perfect.  We’re striving for the hole in one with this film in every way.”

Q: How much of the inspiration for Wolverine comes from the comic books?

A: “What is interesting is that when I first played Wolverine I was not a comic book fan, so I didn’t come with any history of the comic book character. In the first film X-MEN, (director) Bryan Singer wouldn’t allow any of the actors to have any comic books anywhere near the set. He was concerned that in a way if they referred to the books, the actors would bring a two dimensional version of the characters to the screen.  But secretly I was getting them supplied to me (laughs) and I discovered that they were visually enormously rich.  I drew a lot on the comic for the physicality of Wolverine. But the comics were also incredibly rich in terms of stories and characters. There’s a reason that this character has been around for fifty years. One of the first comic books I ever read was the ‘Japan Saga’ and I was so taken by it and impressed. I later found out that it was the most popular story arc for the fans. Together with (producer) Lauren Shuler Donner I have dreamt of making this film so it is very exciting.  It’s the ultimate Wolverine. This is someone who’s been at war with himself for many years; now he has to embrace who he is. I would say this is definitely the quintessential movie about this character.”

Q: What does the Japanese setting and theme add to the experience?
A: “Both for fans of the movies and people who have never seen any of the films, it’s a fascinating backdrop. I‘ve been to Japan ten or eleven times. I have always found the country interesting.  The people are incredible and the culture is rich and diverse; it is completely different from anywhere else in the world. For many, many thousands of years Japan was isolated from everywhere. It’s only relatively recently that the country has become part of the world community and so it still has a very different feel to it.”

Q: What does the director James Mangold bring to the film? You worked together previously on KATE & LEOPOLD?

A: “James has been successful at every genre he has tackled. He’s really incredible with big movies as well as with small movies. I would say that the common thread weaved throughout his work is the depth. He has sophistication and confidence in his storytelling. Lauren Shuler Donner said to me: ‘you know, no matter what the film, the personality of the director ends up on screen.’ I really think that is true and in this case it is great. Jim is so vibrant, he’s so smart, he’s an emotional warm guy and he is so hard working. And he pushes me like no one else does. (laughs)Look, we’re still filming tonight and it’s now dark. He’s just going going going with great commitment and that’s the dedication we wanted for this film.  We do not want this film to feel like number three, four or five in the series. We want it to feel completely fresh. Jim is a great proven filmmaker, but he brings to the film all the enthusiasm of a beginner, so it’s a win-win situation.”

Q: What does this movie mean to you personally?

A: “At the end of the day when I’m old and in my wheelchair and someone asks ‘which movie should I watch about that great character Wolverine?’I want to say, ‘watch THE WOLVERINE.’ I’m really excited about the film.  We had an amazing script by Chris McQuarrie and Jim Mangold is a fantastic director. We have a great group of actors and a fantastic crew; the planets are lining up in every way.”