Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Appearing in Avengers: Doomsday Just Got a Lot More Likely

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Could we possibly see Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine character make an appearance in the upcoming movies, “Avengers: Doomsday” or “Avengers: Secret Wars”? Only a few years ago, such a scenario might have seemed implausible given that “Logan” served as a concluding chapter for his portrayal of the popular X-Men character. Jackman appeared to have hung up his claws, but with multiverse themes now prevalent in comic book films and numerous actors reprising their superhero roles, including Tobey Maguire and Patrick Stewart, the idea of Jackman’s return doesn’t seem as far-fetched. After all, he did come back for “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which raises the question of whether an appearance in an Avengers movie could be next.

The initial cast announcement for “Avengers: Doomsday” gathered several of Hugh Jackman’s former X-Men colleagues such as Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, and Alan Cumming. This revelation made it likely that we would see Jackman reprise his role at least once more. However, recent rumors about Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool appearing in “Doomsday” further bolster this assumption. Given their previous collaboration and Reynolds’ instrumental role in persuading Jackman to return as Wolverine, it seems highly probable that the character will appear in the fifth Avengers film. In fact, it would be surprising at this point if he wasn’t part of “Doomsday,” or at least “Secret Wars” if not “Doomsday.

Should Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Return In Avengers: Doomsday?

It’s quite likely that we’ll see Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine, given the exceptional performance he delivered and the fact that many original X-Men cast members are reuniting. Leaving him out would seem unusual in such a gathering. If the movie features a grand team-up scene with Professor X, Cyclops, Magneto, Mystique, Nightcrawler, and others like Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) or Storm (Halle Berry), it’s reasonable to expect Wolverine to be there too.

While it’s true that Doomsday, and particularly Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine, seems to be an exaggeration of the current trend in superhero movies where characters are brought back via the multiverse. This trend often revolves around cameos and nostalgia, with films prioritizing viral moments over robust storylines due to their success at the box office. Doomsday must find a way to rise above this issue regardless of whether Logan appears in the movie or not. However, considering his high profile as a returning character, it would indeed magnify this challenge.

In the film “Logan,” the character was provided an unforgettable departure, with one of the most poignant endings among all superhero movies. But how does “Deadpool 3” compare? Was it able to match the power and emotional resonance of “Logan”? Did it meet expectations and justify its production? The massive $1.3 billion box office earnings suggest it did, though nothing can truly eclipse the raw emotion and lasting impact of “Logan.” Hugh Jackman’s return in a variant role may have excited fans, but it still feels like a departure from the emotional depth achieved in “Logan.

Wolverine Returning Causes An X-Men Problem

One potential rephrasing could be: The integration of Wolverine and other X-Men characters into the MCU might hinder Marvel Studios’ planned X-Men reboot, which is not expected until Phase 7, following the conclusion of “Secret Wars.” During this phase, we can anticipate a revamped universe that addresses the aftermath of “Secret Wars” and the potential consequences it may bring. Marvel has previously encountered similar situations when introducing fresh versions of characters, but their execution hasn’t always been flawless. Anthony Mackie effectively portrays Captain America, but the movie “Brave New World” didn’t perform well at the box office. Some of the blame for this was attributed to it being the first film without Chris Evans in the role [as per Deadline].

The predicament might worsen, as Marvel seems to have underdeveloped the new characters introduced during Phases 4 and 5. For instance, Sam Wilson, who took on the Captain America role in a 2021 Disney+ series, didn’t appear in a movie until 2025. Shang-Chi hasn’t been seen since his solo film in 2021, and The Eternals’ return seems unlikely. Conversely, legacy characters like Spider-Man (portrayed by Maguire and Andrew Garfield), who reappeared in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’, as well as the numerous cameos in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ and Jackman himself in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, have garnered the most attention. It’s not by chance that they’ve been the top earners at the box office during Marvel’s Phases 4-6 (thus far). Similarly, Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback isn’t a mere coincidence.

As a fan, I can’t help but acknowledge the unique impact Hugh Jackman has had on the X-Men reboot, particularly with his portrayal of Wolverine. While other actors have graced our screens as various characters from the X-Men universe, there’s only ever been one Wolverine, and that’s Jackman. The idea of replacing him after Logan seems like an insurmountable task. If he were to reappear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in projects like Doomsday or Secret Wars, it would feel like an even greater endeavor. However, if he meets his end again in such stories, we’ve already witnessed that done masterfully. This isn’t meant as a critique of Jackman; if he were to return, we can expect him to deliver once more. Yet, sometimes, certain roles may be better left untouched.

The movie titled “Avengers: Doomsday” is set to hit theaters on December 18th, 2026. The sequel named “Secret Wars” will follow suit a year later, on December 17th, 2027.

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2025-08-23 15:13