Now that Hugh Jackman is ending his run as the big screen version of Wolverine, the folks at 20th Century Fox have a choice to make: they can either just retire the character (which would be a terrible idea), or they can recast him. At this point we really don't know which option the studio will take, but for what it's worth, Kingsman: The Secret Service star Taron Egerton would love a crack at the part.
Promoting the upcoming release of his hit from earlier this year, Egerton recently had an interview with Screen Rant, and it was during that conversation that the subject of the soon-to-be-vacated Wolverine role came up. Asked if he would be game for the chance to play the second big screen version of the adamantium-clawed mutant, the actor humbly noted that he might not be the right fit for the role, but added that he would very much love the opportunity. Said Egerton,
I don’t know if I’m quite grizzly enough. My facial hair is still very thin and patchy. I feel someone who plays Wolverine potentially needs testosterone in abundance. Yeah, I’d love to have a go at it, but I don’t know. [Laughs] I don’t know.
Taking things a step further, Taron Egerton noted that he actually happened to be with Hugh Jackman on the day he announced that he was soon completing his time as Wolverine - and even joked with the Australian star about taking over the part. He said,
I was with Hugh the day that he announced his retirement from that role. I did joke about that very thing with him. But the phone hasn’t rang yet, my friend, so I don’t know.
It's worth mentioning that this isn't the first time that Egerton has been suggested for a role within the X-Men universe - though the last time didn't involve Wolverine. Instead, there were reports earlier this year that said that he was on the shortlist of actors being considered to play the role of young Cyclops in the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse. Unfortunately for the Kingsman star, the part wound up going to Mud lead Tye Sheridan.
Even if 20th Century Fox does decide to ultimately recast Wolverine, the reality is that we won't hear about their choices until a long time from now. This is because Hugh Jackman is still set to play the character one final time in James Mangold's untitled The Wolverine sequel - which will also star Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier and not set to come out until 2017. The studio probably isn't going to make any action towards a new Wolverine until they're 100 percent sure that Jackman is done, and that's not going to happen for a couple more years.
Would you buy Taron Egerton as the new Wolverine?
