FIRST LOOK
Empire's New X-Men Origins: Wolverine Cover Shot!
by Alex Billington
November 26, 2008
Source: Empire
"There's a scene in the first X-Men movie where Wolverine's introduced in a bar, fighting in a cage, and you felt that he did this every night of his life. If this movie is successful, you should feel that this guy can walk straight off the end of this film and into that bar." Just in time for Thanksgiving, Empire has debuted the latest cover of the next issue of their magazine. On the cover this time is Hugh Jackman as Wolverine from the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I wish we could see more of the photos and read more of the story from inside the mag, but we'll have to wait until it shows up in our mailbox for that.
This isn't anything particularly new, as we've seen photos like this before, but it does kick off the onslaught of Wolverine media to come. The first trailer will show in front of The Day the Earth Stood Still on December 12th, which means we'll have a lot more to look at by then. In addition to that quote that Jackman gave above, actor Danny Huston chimed in with a few quotes about his role as the character William Stryker, who is a very important character in the plot. Read more on that below the cover shot.
"The thing about Stryker is that he feels like he's got this God-given right, that he's on a crusade. He both loves and hates mutants, because his son was a mutant and murdered his wife. So he understands what they're going through but despises their force, their potential danger," Huston tells Empire. "In Logan and Creed, Stryker finds his children and hones their powers like racehorses. But as in the world of horseracing, when your horse breaks his leg and is suddenly useless, he has a very cold way of looking at them. And he's also a mad scientist excited by the possibilities of what he can do to mutants."
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is directed by South African filmmaker Gavin Hood, of the Oscar winner Tsotsi as well as Rendition previously. The script was written by veteran screenwriter David Benioff, of 25th Hour, Troy, and The Kite Runner previosuly. The character of Wolverine was first created by Len Wein and John Romita Sr. back in 1974 before he joined the X-Men team. Fox will debut X-Men Origins: Wolverine in theaters everywhere on May 1st, 2009 early next summer.
19 Comments
1
Too bad I'm fucking sick of Wolverine Origin Stories (tm). They have to make something really really amazing to impress a comic book fan who has read so many versions of the Wolverine origin... and I simply don't think they'll succeed.
Epic Banana on Nov 26, 2008
2
Consindering this movie's debut in May, I'm curious why we haven't seen much from production in the last few months. Look at Star Trek and all the push it's getting. Granted, it's a reboot and they have to bring the die-hard fans on early. But I'm worried that Marvel thinks they have a sure fire hit in their hands. Wolverine: Origins could be 2009's Speed Racer at the box office if they're not careful
Tom Brazelton on Nov 26, 2008
3
That is a pretty ordinary shot of Logan. Something more creative would have worked better.
Film-Book dot Com on Nov 26, 2008
4
God I hope this movie tanks. Can't stand Wolverine anymore.
bridge on Nov 26, 2008
5
Nice bulge 😛
edi on Nov 26, 2008
6
The thing that would of made that shot more impressive would be if they showed his bone claws before they were fused with the adamantium.
Joker on Nov 26, 2008
7
Maybe they'll have the trailer shown at ComicCon(?) play before the Punisher Movie. Publication has to start around xmas/new years, even if they're teasers, right? I saw a low quality version of the trailer, and its filled with action as you'd expect. I can't really choose whether or not it'll be great or just ok. We're gonna get the origin story of Wolverine - plain and simple. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I don't expect to walk out of the theatre with a new look on life, just the fact that I came out of a really exciting popcorn movie. I'm sure there's a high bar to be raised, being in 3 XMen movies to now having their own film about their story. People are going to expect something fresh and exciting. I'm sure ultra-fanboys are going to go into it critiquing it from start to finish, but based on how far they've developed the character in the comics, I can already hear the complaints. So go in, be pumped up to see it, but just enjoy what we're expecting to be a wild action movie with a simple plot. "Try to please everybody and you'll end up pleasing no one"
Nick Sears on Nov 26, 2008
8
jackman is a jackass...resell crow would've made a way better wolverine.
vic on Nov 26, 2008
9
I think this is very interesting. They are actually creating a prequel to the X-men Movies that is centered around wolverine. The interesting thing is that in the past, People have shown some contempt for reboots - as they usually disregard source material in favor of starting a character over again. Now, here we have an honest attempt at continuing the line and people are showing that they are tired of it. I Know I cannot tell the future or read alternate timelines, cause that would be sweet if I could, but I am going to venture and say this. Had this movie been a reboot of the wolverine character, folks would have bitched about hugh jackman not being in this thing, or if they had kept Hugh jackman but rebooted his origin, people would have crapped all over it for disregarding the X-men movies that started this thing.. The Punisher/Thomas Jane fiasco comes to mind. I, for one, am mixed about this one. In part due the paradox I detailed above. But, mostly due really wanting to see some footage from this thing to see what vibe and mood they accomplished. One other thing, I really appreciated the original X-men and the toned down costumes, but now in the Iron man/Batman Era - I believe that a costumed Wolverine would be really fun..just my opinion..
ERivas on Nov 26, 2008
10
I love how ONE image gets the fanboys all riled up!! LMAO! I think Jackman is PERFECTLY cast as Wolverine and did the character proud. I'm really psyched about this movie and I hope it's gonna be good!!!
AndyS on Nov 26, 2008
11
And to think waaaaaay back in the day, I thought Jackman was miscast and that Chris Benoit should have been cast as Wolverine (similar height, weight, build, overall look & Nationality).... SHAME ON ME. Jackman's the man. he can act and brings life to the character. I bow down. My only gripe so far is the new look of Sabertooth. I hope it's explained and doesn't contradict anything in X-men.
j money on Nov 26, 2008
12
Re-Sell Crow? The economy is in the dumps so bad that even crow is tanking
PimpSlapStick on Nov 26, 2008
13
There's gonna be a HEAT II??? WTF????? .. .. .. .... Anyway, yeah, that's a pretty lame cover. Maybe if there was a shot of him just getting out of a fire in some mad rage or something and his skin is still healing.
Alfredo on Nov 26, 2008
15
@8 are u stupid?? Russell Crowe's fat ass? a better Wolverine? I don't think so. Hugh Jackman is perfect. This is the role he was born to play- like Arnold is to Terminator. The pic is alright!
Blue Silver on Nov 26, 2008
16
#5 - It's the budgie smugglers Hugh was telling Conan about the other night.
avoidz on Nov 26, 2008
17
@9 People dont want a Wolverine movie because the last 3 X-films were ALL Wolverine movies!
Otacon on Nov 28, 2008
18
This is gonna be amazing!! Plus I can't wait to FINALLY see ole Remy LeBeau, aka Gambit, on the big screen!!
Daas on Nov 28, 2008
19
I am totally agree with Otacon as people dont want a Wolverine movie because the last 3 X-films were ALL Wolverine movies!
License Plates on Feb 6, 2009
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