Trailer Tuesday: The Wolverine

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Wolverine is the Batman of the Marvel Universe. Translation: He's cool. He's a badass. Everyone loves him. So even though he hasn't really undergone any character progression over the years, they just keep on trotting him out for pretty much every single Marvel squad team comic. And he's appeared in every single X-Men film to date. So naturally here's Logan again in his second solo spin-off, The Wolverine. Hugh Jackman is, of course, back in the role that set him up for international superstardom.


I wasn't an especially big fan of the first solo Wolverine film (my review). It was watchable but, drawing on a variety of comic material including Origin, to stitch together its story, it just felt clawless - another safe PG-13 superhero film to satisfy teenage boys without upsetting their parents.

Sequel The Wolverine, well... here's some flavour to appreciate. Not to mention a Logan who looks more ripped and veiny than ever before!

As the Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) cameo in trailer suggests, The Wolverine takes place some time after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand. Apparently based largely on the influential miniseries by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller (note to self: read it sooner rather than later), The Wolverine sees a broken Logan travel to Japan, where he becomes embroiled in Yakuza gang wars and complicated relationships with some very beautiful, very dangerous women. More importantly, Logan is for the first time physically vulnerable, freed from his mutant "curse" of immortality and instantaneous healing.

Although I'm not especially sold on the need to make Wolverine suddenly mortal and all "relatable", I definitely am excited for The Wolverine. Jackman's consistent commitment to the role. The exotic Japanese setting. And who really doesn't want to see how Logan's Adamantium claws match up with samurai swords and ninja flesh on the big screen? Although I would have been extra excited if original helmer Darren Aronofsky hadn't bowed out of the production for family commitments, I'll give director James (Walk the Line, Knight and Day) Mangold the benefit of the doubt.


Screening in converted 3D, The Wolverine opens in the US and South Africa on 26 July.

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