Hugh Jackman debuted as Wolverine in Bryan Singer’s X-Men back in 2000. Six movies later, including two solo Wolverine films, and we still haven’t really seen much of the character’s famous berserker rage. Perhaps now, with the actor preparing for his final stint as Logan, this will be rectified.
Jackman recently spoke with the Sydney Confidential podcast, during which time he revealed a couple of tidbits that have been brought up for his third and final Wolverine movie. With quotes via The Hollywood Reporter, one of the details he mentioned was the berserker rage, while another is the return of Sabretooth. Jackman said:
…the words 'berserker rage' came up a lot. If you know Wolverine, you'll understand.
In addition to his accelerated healing factor and his adamantium claws, Wolverine has the uncontrolled ability to fall into what’s called a berserker rage. In this state, Logan loses himself almost entirely in an animalistic frenzy. It most often occurs when he’s locked in close combat. Though he loathes the state, it does make him resistant against psionic attacks. In the Wolverine #159 comic by writer Frank Tieri, the berserker rage helped him overcome the mind-manipulating mutant Mister X. This ability/affliction is such a major part of Logan that it’s a surprise it hasn’t been utilized more.
In addition, Jackman teased a potential return for Sabretooth when talking about factors the fans on Twitter were requesting. He mentioned on the podcast,
…lots of calls for Victor Creed to come back…
Sabretooth is like the anti-Wolverine in many ways, which makes him a formidable threat. (Though, Game of Thrones’ George R.R. Martin has a different take on this kind of Marvel villain.) Among his abilities are accelerated healing, heightened senses and some degree of super-strength, all of which are attributes of Wolverine. Victor Creed made his big-screen debut in 2000 with X-Men, as played by Tyler Mane. He popped up again in X-Men Origins: Wolverine played by Liev Schreiber. Much like with the berserker rage, it would be nice tribute to the character to feature his most famous nemesis for Jackman’s final cinematic outing.
The Wolverine director James Mangold is returning to direct Hugh Jackman in the sequel. Plot details are still under wraps, but during the Comic-Con festivities the actor teased the Old Man Logan storyline from the comics. In this arc by Mark Millar and artist Steve McNiven, an aging Logan is traversing a post-apocalyptic world as the last remaining X-Man. Patrick Stewart, who originated the role of Professor Charles Xavier in the original X-Men trilogy, will reprise the character for Wolverine 3. He was the one who had Cyclops and Storm bring him to the X-Mansion, he was the one helping Logan attempt to find out what happened to him, and it’s only fitting that he help bring his final chapter to a close.
