With X-Men: First Class riding a wave of critical success and performing solidly at the box office, there’s no doubt that 20th Century Fox is anxious to move ahead on its next X-Men film, The Wolverine. It seemed nearly everyone interested in Hugh Jackman‘s sixth appearance as the Canadian mutant was disappointed when Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler) pulled out of the film in March. After creating a long shortlist of replacements in May, Deadline reports that Fox and Jackman have their pick for the replacement: James Mangold, director of Knight & Day, 3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line, and Cop Land. I’m very happy with the choice — he was my pick for director off Fox’s list, since I am a big fan of both 3:10 to Yuma and Cop Land.
The Wolverine is mainly based on the 1982 Chris Claremont/Frank Miller Wolverine mini-series in which the Canadian mutant spends some time in Japan. Darren Aronofsky said before his departure that The Wolverine was more of a “one-of” film than a sequel in an attempt to distance it from the formulaic “superhero movie” approach. That makes sense considering that Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, The Tourist) wrote the script, who is certainly not a “superhero movie” writer. The incomparable Hugh Jackman will of course return as the title character.
What are your thoughts on Mangold for The Wolverine? Was he the right pick? Let us know in the comments below!
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