It is to Tom Cruise that we owe the choice of Hugh Jackman to play the role of Wolverine in the X-Men saga.
Tl;dr
- Dougray Scott was to play Wolverine before Hugh Jackman.
- He had to give up the role to Mission : Impossible II.
- Jackman played Wolverine in seven films over two decades.
The Truth About Wolverine
Many Marvel fans have a hard time imagining anyone other than Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. However, one actor almost beat him to it and took on this iconic role. Scottish actor Dougray Scott, on the rise after his remarkable performance in Ever After et Deep Impactwas in the running to play Logan in 1999.
The role that eluded Scott
In an interview given to Daily Telegraph in 2020, the actor revealed that it is Tom Cruise who is indirectly responsible for his non-participation in the franchise X-Men. While on the set of Mission: Impossible II with Cruise, the latter asked him to stay to finish the film, thus preventing him from taking on the role of Wolverine.
Jackman's career turning point
For Hugh Jackman, playing Wolverine was a real turning point in his career. Before playing the character, the Australian actor was best known for his career in musical theater and a few roles in Australian films and television series. His success as Wolverine catapulted him to international superstardom.
Jackman played Wolverine in seven films over a period of two decades, culminating in the success of Logan in 2017. Although he announced he was done with the role at the time, he returned last year for Deadpool & Wolverine. Marvel Studios has yet to officially announce his return, but both the actor and the studio have encouraged the possibility.
What if Scott had been Wolverine?
If Dougray Scott had played Wolverine as planned, who knows how the superhero genre would have evolved since then? A character like Logan has huge importance in big screen comic book adaptations, and recasting him seems inconceivable to many viewers. But in another universe, Scott's Wolverine might have been just as beloved.
