The MCU’s Best Wolverine Replacement is Already Here – & Here’s 5 Reasons Why

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Hugh Jackman is deeply associated with his role as Wolverine, having played the character for over two decades – longer than almost anyone else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Wesley Snipes as Blade being the exception. He became a major star after the first X-Men movie in 2000, and has consistently reprised the role ever since. He’s appeared in the original X-Men trilogy, his own standalone trilogy, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Deadpool & Wolverine, with smaller roles in X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Apocalypse. Because of this long association, the idea of anyone else playing Wolverine feels almost impossible – it would be similar to replacing the voice of Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi.

The reality is Wolverine is a demanding physical role, and Hugh Jackman is 57 years old. While he’s still in great shape and could play the character for a little longer (Marvel should act fast!), eventually someone else will have to take over. Luckily, we already have a perfect candidate: Dafne Keen.

5) The Audience Has Already Grown Fond of X-23

Rather than completely restarting the Wolverine story and dealing with all the complications that involves, why not continue with a proven character? Dafne Keen’s performance as X-23 in Logan was a huge success, and there’s a good reason for that.

I was completely blown away by Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance! Despite being so new to the screen alongside Hugh Jackman, she more than held her own – she was fantastic in almost every scene. Everyone was talking about her, and what I really loved was how deeply tragic her character was. It felt like she was on the verge of being lost forever unless someone stepped in to help. It’s such a compelling backstory, honestly the movie already gave her character a great origin story, and it saves the MCU from having to explain it all later.

4) Wolverine’s Story Really Has Already Been Told

X-23’s introduction in Logan is so effective because it’s closely linked to the end of Wolverine’s journey. It’s not simply that one character ends while another begins, but that Wolverine sacrifices himself to allow X-23 to thrive.

Seeing Hugh Jackman in a Marvel movie was fantastic, and his playful rivalry with Ryan Reynolds really made the film enjoyable. However, Wolverine’s story feels complete after 17 years, and while a few more appearances would be welcome, it’s crucial to focus on developing X-23 as the next generation hero, either alongside Wolverine or as an independent character.

3) The MCU Has Already Established That She Can Exist Within It

As we discussed before, Marvel needs to consistently remind audiences that Keen is connected to the MCU. This is because she is officially part of the universe. The post-credits scene in Deadpool & Wolverine featured Laura/X-23 at Wade Wilson’s family gathering, not Blade or Elektra.

While Wade’s apartment is technically located on Earth-10005, often called the “FoxVerse,” the movie Deadpool & Wolverine makes a point of establishing that Deadpool is now part of the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe. It seems unlikely they’ll all remain on Earth-10005, especially since they’ve already demonstrated the ability to travel to Earth-616 – as seen with Laura’s rescue from the Void.

2) It Would Be Best to Lock Down Keen Before She Becomes Too Busy

Keen is still early in her career, so she hasn’t accumulated a huge number of film and television credits yet. However, most of the projects she has been in are well-known, and she usually plays prominent, noticeable roles.

After appearing in Logan two years ago, Dafne Keen spent three years leading the series His Dark Materials. It’s rare for a young actor to be the star of an HBO show, especially in the US. In 2024, she returned to the Marvel universe with Deadpool & Wolverine and played Jecki Lon in The Acolyte. This year has been busy, with leading roles in the horror film Whistle and a recurring part on Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Her work on Percy Jackson suggests a good ongoing relationship with Disney, making her a strong candidate for a more permanent role as X-23 if she hasn’t already signed on. She’s also expanding her career beyond acting, as she’s now a producer on her upcoming film, The Marshmallow Experiment, signaling a move towards more creative control.

1) Keen Can Act

Honestly, even as a young actress, Dafne Keen completely blew me away as X-23. She was only eleven, and the role demanded so much – raw anger, deep sadness – but she embodied the character flawlessly. What really struck me was her ability to convey all these complicated feelings with just her expressions, often without saying a single line. It was truly captivating.

After successfully starring in her own series, His Dark Materials, she’s demonstrated her acting skills have continued to grow and that she can confidently carry a major franchise. Unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s approach with characters like Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Captain America – where stories simply evolved to allow for new heroes – she’s proven she can step into a leading role directly. Even before the X-Men’s story truly begins in the MCU, this has already happened with Wolverine.

Which Marvel character do you want to see more of: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, or Dafne Keen as X-23? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-21 18:12