Hugh Jackman has a background in theater, and an even more extensive background playing Wolverine. So naturally, the Aussie action star is the perfect fit for a fake musical about everyone’s favorite X-Man. Hugh Jackman: Wolverine: The Musical! Wolverine: The Musical made its brief debut during a recent interview Jackman gave to BBC radio, and if Broadway is looking for a way to get more dudes in the audience, they’ve found it! In a song set to the tune of “One More Day” from Les Miserables , Jackman crooned about his ripped physique (“I gave up junk food that I know, I made that bargain long ago”) and, of course, works in a plug for his upcoming flick (“I play the X-man, yes it’s quite a task, in X-Men: Days of Future Past”). Sadly, the two minute clip above is the all that exists of this glorious fake musical, but with any luck, it’ll go super-viral and get theater producers to take notice. Hey, if Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark made it to Broadway, surely Marvel’s band of mutants deserves a shot as well. In the meantime, we’ll just have to content ourselves with X-Men: Days of Future Past. The latest installment in the mega-popular franchise is set to hit movie theaters on May 23.
Critics are divided on Hugh Jackman’s long-awaited return to his superhero role. By Todd Gilchrist Hugh Jackman in “The Wolverine” Photo: Twentieth Century Fox
The trailer for The Wolverine doesn’t hit until Wednesday, but director James Mangold has released a six-second tweaser trailer via his Twitter account that crams a lot into its extremely brief run time, including plenty toothy grimacing from Hugh Jackman and a glimpse of the adamantium-clawed antihero’s unrequited X2 dalliance Jean Grey ( Famke Janssen ), who sacrificed herself at the end of the movie. The tweaser. vine.co/v/bDExaiMjJ1F — James Mangold (@mang0ld) March 25, 2013 By the way, if you freeze the scene — which you can do by clicking on the frame — Wolvie and Jean appear to be in the midst sort of gauzy romantic moment, which could mean it’s merely a flashback as opposed to Grey’s return as the Phoenix. (The mutant she eventually becomes based on Marvel mythology). Check it out and tell me what you think, Bub? More on The Wolverine : New Posters For ‘The Wolverine’ Show A Jacked Jackman − But Little Artistic Spark Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Some new posters and images from The Wolverine have hit the web. If only they were as stunning as the original black-and-white Japanese brush style teaser that BLT Communications designed. The new one-sheets are designed to appeal to ab lovers more than art lovers and feature images of a shirtless Hugh Jackman and his adamantium claws. Hoo-ah! As Al Pacino might say. EW.com has also posted a gallery of exclusive stills from the movie, which is set in Japan. The first features Jackman and actress Tao Okamoto as Mariko, who Wolverine is protecting from the Yakuza. Next up, looking a bit like Poison Ivy is Svetlana Khodchenkova as Viper, a super villain who likes to work with toxins and is immune to them. The third image features Rila Fukushima as the formidable Yukio. Jackman tells EW.com that Wolverine’s inability to die is a theme that resounds throughout the film. “He realizes everyone he loves dies, and his whole life is full of pain,” says Jackman. ”So it’s better that he just escapes. He can’t die really. He just wants to get away from everything.” You can check out the rest of EW’s exclusive shots here . [ EW ] Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Hugh Jackman is known for his love of a good musical as much as he’s known for his portrayal of the adamantium-reinforced wise-ass Wolverine . So, it’s no surprise that he used a bit of the latter character’s blunt persuasiveness to land the part of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables . At a press conference for the hotly anticipated musical at Claridge’s on Wednesday, Jackman recalled that upon hearing from his agent that a film adaptation of the vaunted musical was in the works, he began to lobby for the part. Director Tom Hooper had barely had the chance to unpack his best director Oscar from The King’s Speech , let alone formally announce his next project, when Jackman called to arrange a meeting. Upon meeting Hooper, Jackman didn’t mince words. The straight-talking Aussie told the British filmmaker: “Mate, I’m going to audition for you,” and persisted with both Hooper and Les Misérables ’ legendary theater producer, Sir Cameron MacKintosh until the deal was sealed. “I’ve dreamt of being in a movie musical for a long time. For some reason I never even thought Les Mis would be possible,” Jackman said. “It was so iconic, the role wasn’t even on my radar.” Once cast, Jackman said that Hooper issued a clear directive to him about his coming portrayal of Valjean: “I want you unrecognizable. If you’re recognizable, I want your friends to think you’re sick,” the director told him. Upon which Jackman lost around 15 kilos (33lb) — more weight than Anne Hathaway shed for her role of Fantine, as the actress pointed out following a New York screening in November — to shoot the movie’s opening scenes as an emaciated prisoner. Jackman later gorged to regain the weight for following scenes, gleefully stating, “That bit was fun by the way!” Jackman insisted that Les Misérables has been the most physically demanding role he has ever tackled. It seems giving Eddie Redmayne a fireman’s lift while wading through the movie equivalent of chin-high sewage (in reality, watery peat), remains a prominent struggle in the then rehabilitated-man-mountain’s mind, “It was very, very cold, and Eddie, a very trim guy, is not a light as he looks, let me tell you! I constantly wanted to call for a double.” Alas, Jackman said, Hooper wasn’t up for that. As a regular performer on the musical scene, the physical requirements of the role were no surprise to Jackman, “It’s weird coming from me, who’s played Wolverine, or has been in other action movies, you’d probably think, ‘at least a musical is going to be easy.’ But anyone who’s done a musical knows; whether you’re dancing or not, physically it’s the most difficult thing you can do. “Singing is incredibly physical. All of those things combined, as well as emotionally and vocally, it’s the most challenging thing, and usually all at once. It’s the kind of thing you want as an actor. You want to feel challenged. It’s good to feel uncomfortable. “I’m really grateful, that’s the overwhelming feeling.” A head-strong actor with a passion for both musical and action genres — does anyone see a hybrid movie on the horizon, The Sound of Mutants perhaps? Les Misérables opens in U.S. theaters on December 25. MORE ON LES MIS: Variety Review: Hathaway’s A Dream But ‘Les Misérables’ Doesn’t Sing Jackman, Hathaway & Co-Stars Are Masters Of The House At ‘Les Misérables’ Premiere Early Reaction: Oscar Race Heats Up As NYC Screening Of ‘Les Miserables’ Prompts Cheers & Tears Follow Movieline on Twitter.
