Hugh Jackman Didn't Mind Being 'Put Through The Wringer' For His X-Men Movie Debut
Despite being best known for his role as the surly mutant Wolverine, Hugh Jackman actually has a reputation for being one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. Nobody has a bad word to say about the star of such films as "The Prestige" and "Les Misérables," making the fact that his most famous role is as the grumpiest X-Man a little ironic.
Having played the role since 2000, Jackman and Wolverine have become one and the same in the minds of many people. His portrayal of the character is so popular that he finds himself unable to retire from the role, now being brought back for the upcoming "Deadpool 3" just because people think it'd be cool for Wolverine to hang out with The Merc with The Mouth.
Jackman's first film in the role was Bryan Singer's "X-Men," a movie which is often credited with kickstarting the modern popularity of superhero movies. Compared to some of the millions of superhero films we get per year nowadays, the film's a bit one-note, but the fact that "X-Men" did it first combined with some iconic performances by the likes of Jackman as well as Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier cement the film in comic book movie history.
Knowing Jackman's great reputation, it should be no surprise that he was apparently a dream to work with on the movie, according to co-star Anna Paquin in an interview.
Through the wringer
Because the role of Wolverine is now so firmly linked to Hugh Jackman, it's surprising to learn that the role was actually originally offered to Russell Crowe. When Crowe turned it down, Jackman got his opportunity, and he clearly made the most of it.
The creators of the film must have soon been glad they ended up with the easy-going Jackman instead of the famously tough-to-work-with Crowe, as, according to Paquin in her interview, Jackman was happy to go through some tough scenes over and over again during filming.
"He got put through the wringer on that first ["X-Men" movie] and never, ever complained," Paquin, who played the teenage runaway mutant Rogue, said. "It'd be like, minus 40, and he's being dropped off some building onto his back over and over and over again. And still has all the time in the world to be a nice, normal person."
Even when he's rehearsing scenes where he gets his butt kicked repeatedly, Jackman still finds time to be a really good dude. It's comforting to know that beneath Wolverine's grisly, surly surface, there's a heart of gold in there both in and out of character.