Why You Should Be Excited For: Logan

By Brent Ramirez
Blog Content Contributor

It’s a new year and that means new movies folks. For all of my fellow comic book nerds out there, this means a whole new year of comic book movies. From Spider-Man’s return to Marvel Studios in the appropriately named: Spider-Man: Homecoming, to DC’s powerhouse team-up and first ever live action representation of the Justice League; there’s something for all comic book fans to look forward to.

This year’s first entry for comic book movies comes in the form of Fox’s much anticipated Wolverine film titled Logan. Many fans of the character have been waiting for the film ever since it was announced that this would more than likely be the bookend to the story of the Wolverine we have all come to know and love. By the looks of the trailers, it seems that both fans and casual moviegoers alike will have something to look forward to. Here are just a few reasons you should be excited for Logan.

Old Man Logan

One of the reasons that many comic book fans are looking forward to Logan is because of the source material that the film is loosely based on, and I emphasize “loosely.” The film seems to draw from the popular comic storyline penned by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, Old Man Logan, a series in which an old and withered Wolverine sets out on a road trip in hopes of redemption. The storyline features several Marvel characters that Fox doesn’t have the film rights to, like Hawkeye, Captain America and the Hulk, hence why I emphasize “loosely.” While many plot points from the Old Man Storyline won’t make it into the film, it does appear that Fox plans on borrowing some of the visuals and themes from the comic, such as a grizzled Wolverine, a buddy road trip feel and a future dystopian world. It seems that Fox has traded in the symbiote-infused dinosaur, swapped out Hawkeye for Professor X and ditched the Hulk babies for a much more intimate story.  

Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart

Logan will bring back the talents of both Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart to reprise their roles as Wolverine and Professor X respectively. Many people can’t hear the name “Wolverine” without imagining Jackman’s berserk face and signature hairstyle. Despite this, people seem to forget just how incredible he is in his other films like The Prestige and Les Miserables. Stewart, like Jackman, is an actor with tremendous amounts of talent who just so happened to have cemented himself within the X-men franchise as well. Both actors have had tons of credible roles and performances outside of the X-Men movies, proving that they have top notch acting chops. While the franchise itself has had its fair share of ups and downs, Jackman and Stewart have both remained constants throughout the film series, elevating all of the movies they’ve appeared in. As Logan is set to possibly be the final franchise outings for both Jackman and Stewart, you can expect masterful acting and emotionally powerful performances from the two. Just don’t forget to bring your tissues.

Rated-R

Thanks to the well-received and surprise success of 2016’s Deadpool, Fox has decided to follow suit in making the final Wolverine film rated-R, something fans of the character have been waiting a long time for. Deadpool showed the studio that they could have success with a foul mouthed and gruesome superhero film, which it seems has prompted them to do the same with Jackman’s character. Wolverine is one of those comic book characters who deserves an R-rating, considering he’s known for decapitating people in the comics. Despite Wolverine being so tame in all of the PG-13 X-Men movies, the trailers for Logan has shown us that this is a different film. One that isn’t afraid to embrace the true nature of the comic book character. Hardcore fans should be prepared to receive the Wolverine film they have always deserved.

X-23

While many of the characters from the original Old Man Logan storyline won’t be in the film due to film rights issues, director James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma, The Wolverine) has chosen to instead include a fan favorite character from the X-Men universe. The little girl seen in the trailers and promotional material for Logan is none other than fan-favorite mutant Laura Kinney, a.k.a. X-23. In the comics, X-23 is Logan’s clone/daughter who was secretly created in an attempt to replicate the same experiment that created the Wolverine. X-23 is known for her skills as a trained killer, as well as having two adamantium claws on each hand and one claw on each foot. Kinney will be portrayed by young actress Dafne Keen and judging by what we’ve seen in the trailers, she is more than capable of taking down thugs. With Hugh Jackman’s X-Men future possibly at an end, will we see Keen step up to the plate as the new Wolverine in the X-Men franchise? After all, it wouldn’t be too far fetched as X-23 has taken up the mantle in the comics as well.

For now we’ll just have to wait and see if this is the end of Jackman’s Wolverine™. But one thing is for sure, this is going to be one hell of a movie.
Logan hits theaters on March 3rd.

Featured illustration by Emily Castillo.