More than fifty years after the first James Bond film (and thirty years since he last played the character), people still think of Sean Connery as James Bond. That’s why EON Productions offered Connery the then-unheard of sum of $1.25 million to play Bond in 1971’s Diamonds are Forever after he skipped starring as 007 in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The result? Diamonds are Forever grossed twice as much money at the U.S. box office than its predecessor did and nearly double its predecessor’s worldwide take. In other words? Audiences loved Connery as Bond… and as I pointed out above, they still do.
Which explains the latest rumors coming out of Hollywood regarding two of the biggest superhero franchises. First came the news this weekend from The National Enquirer that 20th Century Fox has offered Hugh Jackman an astounding $100 million to do four more movies as Wolverine. It isn’t clear whether or not these would be solo Wolverine movies, ensemble X-Men movies, or a combination of both, but I don’t think it’s that far-fetched of a possibility (even if the source is The National Enquirer). Counting the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past, Jackman has appeared as Wolverine in seven movies (and to tie it in to the top of this post, that’s coincidentally the same amount of times Connery has played Bond). In the mind of the general public, Hugh Jackman IS Wolverine. Jackman has always been open to playing Logan, but he often stresses that he has to feel good about the script and the situation — then again, considering he made X-Men: Origins – Wolverine and X-Men: The Last Stand, his gut probably isn’t the best.
The article cites Jackman’s wife as encouraging him to take the series one role at a time, and considering the 44 year-old Jackman’s first love is musicals he might just pass on this offer. But I don’t think it’s that far-fetched that Jackman could play Wolverine four more times anyway. Jackman has the discipline not to go flabby when he’s pushing fifty. And after all, Wolverine might be invulnerable, but he’s not ageless, and I’d love to see an older, though still ass-kicking Jackman play Wolverine in an adaptation of Old Man Logan.
But in similar news…
Unlike Wolverine, many actors have played Batman (some good, some very bad). But considering Christopher Nolan‘s Dark Knight trilogy grossed nearly $2.5 billion dollars at the worldwide box offices, audiences have obviously accepted Christian Bale as Batman. Bale has publicly expressed his desire to move on from the role — especially since Nolan has no intention of directing another Batman film. However, Warner Bros. announced at Comic-Con that it was jettisoning the sequel to Man of Steel in favor of a Batman vs. Superman movie. Though initial reports have said Warner Bros. is looking to cast an new actor as Batman — with some suggestions that Batman would be portrayed as a Frank Miller-style older, more grizzled crime-fighter with someone like Josh Brolin in the role — The Sun (which is about as reliable as The National Enquirer) reports that Warner Bros. has offered Bale an even more astounding £40 million (nearly $62 million) to return as Batman opposite Henry Cavill‘s Superman in the team-up film.
Though the source might cast some doubt on this, there’s little reason why Warner Bros. wouldn’t consider it in the face of Bale’s previous huge success as the character. That $62 million might also include a deal for Bale to star as Batman in a Justice League follow-up. Although he’s expressed his desire to only work with Nolan, Nolan did develop the story for Man of Steel and produced the film and is expected to produce Batman vs. Superman. And honestly what’s $62 million to Warner Bros. when a Batman vs. Superman film has the potential to make $1 billion at the box office? Unless, of course, the studio thinks the film will do just as well without Bale — and that’s the big question.
My thoughts? Bale and Jackman should take a cue from Bale’s Batman co-star Michael Caine and not turn down a good paycheck. Then they should pool some of the cash to throw the greatest superhero costume party ever.
