We were trying to speculate earlier about how you keep track of whats going on.
Of all the bouncing around I do, the Wolverine roles the easiest to bounce back into.
People might assume that Im getting tired of it, but I dont its getting more engaging.
Im having more fun with the character than ever before.
First of all, to walk on set in the first few weeks was like a reunion.
I owe a lot to Bryan.
He cast me as this character, and that was the first thing I ever did.
The first film I did in America had this incredible cast, I was playing this unbelievable role.
Even if it was bad, Id have said yes I had no other options [Laughs].
But he was a great character.
It really is, every day, a treat.
To play a character I love… this story is pretty epic, pretty extraordinary.
At the time I heard about it, I was doingWolverine.
And I thought, let me just hear what its about.
The moment I heard the pitch for this, I thought, theres no way Im missing out.
Ive answered about 18 different questions in one there.
What are Logans stakes, personally, in this film?
For all the X-Men, including my character, everythings at stake.
Id say the danger levels are the highest theyve ever been in this movie.
Its certainly the greatest threat or villain theyve faced.
So for everyone involved, the stakes couldnt be higher.
Its as dangerous as it gets for all of them.
This is a continuation of the franchise, so in a way were combining twoX-Menworlds.
I dont know how much youve been told…
I dont know how much theres been mentioned of the timeline… How do you compare the physicality of this role toThe Wolverine?
There were different elements inThe Wolverine.There was the samurai element.
So there was the martial arts that I wanted to incorporate into that.
Not that he is a martial artist, but that hed learned some of that.
I was learning that style.
Because I really havent stopped for almost two years.
So physically, Id say Im in better shape than evenWolverine, which is surprising.
So Im feeling pretty good, but Im sure my bodys going to be beaten up pretty soon.
Ive read youre the only character who appears in all theX-Menmovies, is that right?
I mean played by the same actor.
Was there ever a discussion aboutX-Men: First Classfeaturing a young Logan?
Im sure there was a discussion.
They never mentioned it to me, obviously.
But look, thats inevitable, man.
Anyone who thinks theyre indispensible is fooling themselves.
I feel blessed to have this part.
I never thought in a million years Id get to play him seven times.
I get to walk on set with the claws and the hair, and I thank my lucky stars.
I dont take anything for granted.
Thats why Im still here.
Im sure, by the way, that it wont always be my decision to be here.
At some point someone will wrap up the door on me.
But for now Im very happy.
How was it working with Bryan [Singer] again?
[The firstX-Men] wasnt his first movie by any stretch of the imagination it was my first movie.
And it was a massive learning experience for me, I learned a lot from Bryan.
Its fair to say that I was scared out of my mind when I began it was massive.
Id come from Aussie movies, and the whole thing was huge.
We know each other so well.
From day one we were straight into it.
you’re able to credit Bryan, I think, with really igniting the whole genre.
When Logan goes back in time, do we see a 1973 version of Logan?
Can you tell the grey hairs have been slightly taken out of my beard?
Can you talk about meeting the young Charles, and how McAvoy changes that for you?
Such a great question.
Because Wolverine really went under a massive change by missing Professor Xavier.
He was pretty lost.
He was on his own, and pretty rudderless, really.
He was wandering around with a lot of unanswered questions, a lot of anger.
That guidance really changes him and helps him grow.
Its poignant, and beautifully brought out in the script.
Building from that, what is your dynamic with Ian McKellen?
Because before you were opposed, but in the future world Magneto is essentially one of the X-Men.
Were brought together by a greater calamity than our own differences.
I think thats fun.
Just because were in the same family now, it doesnt mean we get on together.
But when you have to unite against a greater foe, youre forced to come together.
Whats always been great aboutX-Menis that its not all happy endings or peace, love and understanding.
Even when theyre together, people are grumpy with each other, they fight, they bicker and disagree.
They have faults and shortcomings.
I think thats what Bryan always envisioned, and thought out really well.
How do you connectThe WolverinetoDays Of Future Past?
It does actually come together very well.
There is a link, and it has been thought through.
All I can say is,The WolverinefollowsX-Men 3,so imagine that as two years afterwards.
So everything that happened there was fresh for Wolverine.
Which is why at the beginning of that movie, hes very much at a loss and disillusioned.
Every movie has its own identity in this series.
Theyre their own thing.
Its different in scale and size and scope for sure.
And for those who really liked BryansX-Menone and two, this is going to be like that on steroids.
This movies escapism for a lot of kids as well as adults.
As a kid, what was your form of escapism?
That came out when I was 12, 13, and that was it.
Was that your Halloween costume?
Well, we didnt have Halloween in Australia, unfortunately.
All I knew about Halloween was the horror movie, and that was it.
Its very much an allegory between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King.
Its about alienation and discrimination.
Its particularly why teenagers connect to it, because teenagers feel like mutants most of the time.
Its always had that aspiration, I think, and thats what Bryan connected to.
Thats what changed the genre, and allowed forThe Dark Knightand things like that.
In the 12 years that youve played Wolverine, how has filmmaking changed around you?
Well, technologys certainly changed, thats for sure.
Yes, in the post-production area, massively.
The cameras were using now, massively.
Right now, Bryans looking at the White House in the monitor.
Hes not just looking at a green screen.
So technically, theres been advancements.
Where does Wolverine go from here?
Can I take at least a little vacation, hey?
[Laughs] Ill take the weekend, thats fine.
Wolverine: The Musical?
This has been a surprise for me.
The Japanese story and that samurai saga, Ive been wanting to make that for 10 years.
So from here Im an open book.
With the international market being so big now, how has that changed a movie like this?
I think its fantastic.
Theres an economical imperative now, to appeal to audiences all around the world.
And why shouldnt they?
I think its great; it has changed the focus of storytelling.
We have so many great international actors in this.
Never forget how amazing America is, that not only do they allow it, but they embrace it.
Theyve always embraced actors like me coming in and putting on an American accent.
People coming in and telling stories.
Its a real sign of generosity and confidence in themselves that theyd do that.
I know there was a lot of schedule juggling to get this movie made.
But it sounds like in the monastery scene, the whole gangs back together.
Thats what I was saying.
I was honestly waking up in the morning thinking, this is unbelievable.
Whod have thought that in this day and age that Id have the opportunity to work with everyone again?
There I was with Anna Paquin.
I remember, she stayed behind for 10 hours after shed finished working to screen test with me.
She said, Ill stay and read with you.
And she was literally a little girl in that first movie when we started.
And here we are in [Days Of Future Past] talking about children and babies.
Everyone had moved on.
Patrick Stewarts getting married again [Laughs].
So its amazing that the same friendship and camaraderie is still there.
Hugh Jackman, thank you very much.
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