'X-Men: Apocalypse' Reshoots Will Involve Hugh Jackman, So Get Speculating

A lot of people see the word "reshoots" and immediately assume doom and gloom. Yes, sometimes reshoots reflect a troubled production. More often, reshoots are just a standard part of the filmmaking process that are built into the budget and schedule. A director gets to the editing bay and realizes he would really like another shot. A scene isn't working, so the crew gets together to fix it. Reshoots aren't always about trying to save a bad movie – they're frequently about trying to refine a good movie so it becomes a great movie.

So take the news that X-Men: Apocalypse is currently undergoing reshoots in stride. Focus on who is returning for these X-Men reshoots: Hugh Jackman. We knew that Wolverine would play some kind of role in the new movie, but the fact that he's being called in for reshoots is a potentially intriguing morsel of information. Speculators, start your engines.

The news was initially reported by Le Journal de Montréal (although it comes to us via ComicBook.com) and the details are limited. Here's what we know: director Bryan Singer and company are returning to Mel's Studio in Montreal, Quebec, where the the bulk of the production was shot earlier this year. The production will be shooting there for a few weeks. And finally, "Hugh Jackman will be on hand."

We still don't know the extent of Jackman's role in the film. The high level of secrecy surrounding his involvement may mean one two things: it's a small part and is intended to be a surprise, or the nature of how Wolverine is used in the film is a spoiler. After all, set pictures and concept art showing off all the new cast members have been flying around the internet, but we haven't caught a single glimpse of the most popular (and most overused) X-Man.

So this is where we'll rev our speculation engine just a little bit. Let's say Wolverine's role in the film is small. Let's say he's a supporting player in a large ensemble. But let's also say that Singer and his producers looked at their footage and decided that it needed a larger dose of adamantium-clawed action. Let's say they returned for reshoots and dragged Jackman along with the sole purpose of beefing up his role in the movie because Wolverine remains a bigger draw than everyone else in the cast.

After all, last time Wolverine wasn't the main character in an X-Men movie, the film did significantly lower box office than most of the other entries in the series. We did get this terrific one-scene cameo, though:

Honestly, it's far more likely that they're just shooting additional material to tighten to the movie up. Yet, we wouldn't put it past anyone involved to squeeze every last ounce of life out of Wolverine before Jackman retires from the character and allows himself to eat donuts again.

Here is the official synopsis for X-Men: Apocalypse:

Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel's X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

X-Men: Apocalypse will open in theaters on May 27, 2016.