Hugh Jackman’s spent a large portion of his acting career playing the adamantium-clawed X-Man known as Wolverine. 16 years in fact, as he first came to prominence in that very role in 2000’s X-Men. While that’s a decent amount of time for a person to you know, age, this latest image from the Aussie actor’s Instagram has some folks all in a flutter because he looks really old.
The thing is: he’s supposed to be old in The Wolverine 3. The third instalment – and reportedly his final stint as Logan/Wolverine – takes its cues from a well-loved comic series set in an alternate timeline called Old Man Logan. The future of that world features a grizzled Wolvie who quests across America with Hawkeye to help save his family from Hulk’s mutated offspring.
So, while plenty of fans offered condolences to Jackman for appearing so haggard, they really have no need to worry. Rather the opposite. It’s all just part of the gig and Jackman’s commitment to a role that established his career.
We’ll find out how the finished product appears onscreen when The Wolverine 3 arrives in theaters on March 3, 2017. Joining Jackman for his final stint are Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Richard E. Grant, Stephen Merchant, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Eriq La Salle and Elise Neal.