Krittika Mukherjee
Hollywood actors often go through rigorous training and commitment towards their onscreen character, for different projects. Similarly, even Hugh Jackman had his own way of getting into his X-Men character, Wolverine. Apart from showing his dedication towards his role for almost a decade, Jackman revealed how he brought out the iconic rage.
The X-Men’s Wolverine is evidently one of the best-known comic book characters of all time. And certainly, a major portion of the credit goes to Hugh Jackman for popularizing the role. Here’s how he prepared himself for the role and brought out the rage while playing his character.
The Way Hugh Jackman Kickstarted His Wolverine Attitude
Receiving his breakthrough role as Wolverine in Bryan Singer’s X-Men (2000), Hugh Jackman became a part of the Marvel comics and turned his character into one of the most popular ones. Further, the actor reprised his role in 2003’s X2, and 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand. And ever since then, Jackman never had to look back upon his career, as he repeatedly appeared as Wolverine until his 2017 iteration, Logan.
Currently, while Hugh Jackman is preparing to return to the silver screen as Wolverine in Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool 3, we found it the best time to disclose how the actor prepared for his iconic role, all this while. According to a 2006 interview with Contact Music, the actor revealed how he tapped into his rageful emotions for his role as Wolverine, since his X-Men character is naturally aggressive.
“(It was) freezing cold water and I was so p**sed. A cold shower in the middle of a Toronto winter and I had to be under there for two minutes. I was half way through it and I went, ‘This is it!’ This feeling was so through my body that I wanted to scream but you couldn’t, so that was kind of the character.”
Taking cold freezing showers before appearing on the set as Wolverine, the actor brought out his inner rage and delivered a phenomenal performance. Turning his aggressive emotions to honor his role, Jackman credited unpleasant morning showers as a way to kickstart his Wolverine attitude.
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Preparation Has Become His Ritual
During the discussion with Contact Music, the actor revealed how his preparation for Wolverine almost turned into a ritual. Revealing how every time he went to reprise his role as the X-Men character, Jackman mentioned taking cold freezing showers to get into his character. He called it almost “superstitious” how he exercised genuine anger through his Wolverine character.
“So, every morning and every time I play that role now, it’s become superstitious almost. I always take a cold shower first thing in the morning – just to get p**sed off.”
Hugh Jackman later revealed how he at times felt his preparation for Wolverine was a very cathartic experience during a discussion with Men’s Health (via Digital Spy). The actor later discussed why he felt like playing the X-Men role was almost therapeutic for him. Stating how aggression is a primal thing, Jackman mentioned that playing the role of Wolverine allowed him to bring out his own rage.
“It’s in our DNA. Aggression is a primal thing and it needs to be exorcised in some way; far better to have it in a controlled violent environment. So in a way playing Wolverine is good therapy. And he’s cool, you know? He’s much cooler than me.”
In the end, no matter how much he prepared for his role, Hugh Jackman bid adieu to his X-Men character with his 2017 sequel, Logan. Although the actor is currently making a comeback in Ryan Reynolds’ upcoming Deadpool 3, it is probably going to be his final departure.
Watch all X-Men movies on Disney+.
Source: Contact Music, Men’s Health (via Digital Spy)
