There’s an Unmade Wolverine Sequel That Might Have Been the Best Marvel Movie Ever

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As a huge film fan, I find the *Wolverine* trilogy fascinating, but also incredibly uneven. It’s rare to see such a range in quality across three movies! The first one, *X-Men Origins: Wolverine*, really stumbled out of the gate and got some seriously bad reviews. It became something of a joke in the *Deadpool* films, and honestly, a cautionary tale for how *not* to make a *Wolverine* movie. But then, the third film, *Logan*, completely blew everyone away – it was a box office hit, got Oscar nominations, and critics loved it. It’s just such a wild ride when you look at the whole trilogy.

I remember when *The Wolverine* came out in 2013, it was so cool to see James Mangold take on the character for the first time! But it’s interesting to learn that the movie almost turned out completely different. Apparently, the original idea had the potential to be one of the greatest Marvel films ever, but things changed during development.

Darren Aronofsky & His Dance With The Wolverine

Although *X-Men Origins: Wolverine* was financially successful, it didn’t receive enough positive feedback to guarantee another film. To continue the profitable *Wolverine* series starring Hugh Jackman, 20th Century Fox knew the next movie needed a fresh approach. In late 2010, shortly after his critically acclaimed film *Black Swan* premiered at the Venice Film Festival, Darren Aronofsky was chosen to direct the next installment, *The Wolverine*.

Darren Aronofsky and Hugh Jackman had collaborated before on *The Fountain*, and Aronofsky was almost involved with *X-Men: The Last Stand*. Hiring the celebrated director for *The Wolverine*, especially after the success of his film *Black Swan*, was a clear signal that this wouldn’t be a simple repeat of *X-Men Origins: Wolverine*. Jackman hoped this new movie would have the same depth and complexity as Aronofsky’s previous work, instead of being just another typical superhero film, despite being directed by the filmmaker known for *Requiem for a Dream*.

When Darren Aronofsky was initially involved, he explained that his love for Japanese movies was a major reason he agreed to direct the film. During his time with the project, it was titled *The Wolverine*, a name chosen to distinguish it from the previous installment, and this title remained consistent. However, Aronofsky departed the film in March 2010, prompting an immediate search for a replacement director.

Would Aronofsky’s The Wolverine Have Been Good?

Darren Aronofsky frequently explores themes of physical suffering in his films, often focusing on damaged or scarred bodies. Given that *The Wolverine* centers on a superhero confronting his own mortality and even performing self-surgery after losing his healing ability, it feels like a natural fit for Aronofsky’s style. The pairing of this director and Hugh Jackman, who have worked together before, held a lot of promise for a unique take on the superhero genre.

It’s amazing to think about how different things could be if Darren Aronofsky had directed *The Wolverine*. Because he left the project to be with his children during a divorce, *Logan* likely wouldn’t have happened – it was so closely linked to James Mangold’s vision for Wolverine. Without *Logan*, how we see Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of the character would be completely different. And *Deadpool & Wolverine* would have been a drastically altered film, or might not have happened at all, as it relies heavily on the imagery and style established by Mangold’s work.

Although *X-Men Origins: Wolverine* was a poor film and started the *Wolverine* solo series, its later installments, especially *Logan*, had a significant impact on superhero movies. Had Darren Aronofsky directed *The Wolverine*, it likely would have drastically altered the future of the genre. It also would have prevented him from making his unique films *Noah* and *Mother!*. Aronofsky’s departure meant a loss of considerable artistic vision, but ultimately, the way the *Wolverine* trilogy unfolded was probably for the best.

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2025-09-15 14:10