We’ve been hearing for a while that the next Wolverine solo movie will be Hugh Jackman’s last time putting on the mutton chops and claws (not counting a few cameos here and there), and now it seems like we have a good idea of what that next movie might look like. Just before the X-Men: Apocalypse panel began at Comic-Con this weekend, Jackman took the stage by himself to chat about Wolverine/Logan and what it has meant to him to have a chance to play “the greatest comic book character ever made” (via Indiewire). The noteworthy part, though, is that he also took a moment to comment on how much younger he was when he first started playing the hairiest mutant in all of comics (X-Men came out 15 years ago), adding, “I’ve got three words for you guys: old man Logan. That’s all I’m saying. Read into it what you will.”
As X-Men fans know, “Old Man Logan” is the name of a famous storyline from 2008 (created by Steve McNiven and Mak Millar) that was set in a distant future in which various Marvel villains have taken over the world. Most of the heroes are dead, and Wolverine has become a farmer and started a family. When a gang of inbred Hulks (yeah, it’s weird) come to shake him down for protection money, Wolverine has no choice but to go on a dangerous road trip with a similarly elderly version of Hawkeye from The Avengers.
Now, Jackman’s comment is pretty far from any kind of official confirmation that the next Wolverine movie will be based on “Old Man Logan,” but the way he said it—and his quick glance off-stage while saying it—do seem a little suspicious. It would make a certain amount of sense, since playing an old version of the character would be a good way for Jackman to wrap up his time as Wolverine, but huge chucks of the story (basically all of it) would have to be scrapped or altered for rights-related reasons. Still, though, it’s fun to speculate!
Whatever the third Wolverine movie will be about, it’s being written by Michael Green and directed by James Mangold.