Of all the many Marvel Comics characters who have yet to make their debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, none are quite so iconic or beloved as James Howlett, aka Logan, aka Wolverine of X-Men fame. He’s been one of Marvel’s most popular superheroes for decades, and his fame only skyrocketed once he first appeared on the big screen in 2001.
Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine is so beloved by fans that he’s still hailed to this day as one of the greatest superhero actors of all time — and looking at his performance in 2017’s Logan, it’s easy to see why. But now that Jackman has already had his perfect curtain call as Wolverine, the MCU will most likely pursue a new actor to fill the role. Here are just a few actors who could easily fill the shoes of this much-admired Marvel mutant.
Daniel Radcliffe
It may be hard to imagine Harry Potter himself stepping into the role of the Adamantium-clawed X-Man, but the 32-year-old English actor has proved that he’s much more than just a boy wizard. After leaving the Wizarding World behind, Radcliffe has pursued much more eclectic roles. He played beat poet Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings, a talking corpse in Swiss Army Man, and even “Weird Al” Yankovic himself in the upcoming biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
But of course, Radcliffe hasn’t left mainstream Hollywood fare behind, as shown by his roles in Now You See Me 2 and this year’s The Lost City, in which he starred opposite Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. Granted, Radcliffe hasn’t had any straightforward action hero roles in the vein of Wolverine, but he’s showcased enough range throughout his career that it’s not hard to imagine him pulling it off.
The most likely reason Radcliffe is such a fan favorite candidate for Wolverine is a simple one: he’s short. Most wouldn’t know it from the movies, but Wolverine is only 5’3’’ in the comics, standing a full foot shorter than Hugh Jackman. Logan’s diminutive stature is such a striking part of his visual identity that fans are eager to see a shorter actor take on the role for the MCU. And at 5’5’’, Radcliffe fits the bill. He may not seem like the grizzled berserker type, but if Hugh Jackman can go from musical theater to the Marvel Universe, Radcliffe can no doubt go against type just as well.
Taron Egerton
One of the biggest rising stars of the past decade, Taron Egerton first made a splash as the lead in Kingsman: The Secret Service, another action-packed comic adaptation. Since then, he’s starred in everything from Sing to Robin Hood to The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. And of course, his turn as Elton John in Rocketman showed off dramatic chops and his range as a performer, proving that he’s more than just a charming leading man. He even made a cameo as DC hero John Constantine in the audio play adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.
At 5’9’’, Egerton is half a foot taller than comic Logan, but still much closer than Jackman. And while his previous roles may be too clean-cut for him to seem like a convincing Wolverine, his role in Rocketman proves just how well he can disappear into a role. Between his skill as a thespian and his action blockbuster background, Egerton is a strong contender for the MCU’s perfect Wolverine.
Keanu Reeves
By far the biggest name on this list, Keanu Reeves is one of the greatest action stars in Hollywood history, not to mention one of the most popular actors who has yet to appear in the MCU. For years, Reeves has been a popular fancast for characters ranging from Ghost Rider to the Silver Surfer, but some fans believe he’d make an excellent Wolverine as well — and not just because they’re both Canadian.
After his acclaimed turn as the title character of the John Wick series, it’s not hard to see why Reeves would be associated with Wolverine. Both Logan and John Wick are nigh-unstoppable killers with sensitive sides, who are haunted by their dark pasts and capable of terrifying rage when provoked. Plus, as one of the stars of the Bill and Ted movies, Reeves has plenty of experience in comedy as well as action, so he’d certainly be able to capture Logan’s dry wit as well. Granted, he’s one of the tallest actors on this list at 6’1’’, not to mention the oldest, at 57. But if Reeves does end up donning the claws in the MCU, it’d no doubt be the delight of countless fans.
Karl Urban
Karl Urban is perhaps the most unlikely candidate on this list for several reasons, but between his roles as Judge Dredd in Dredd and Billy Butcher in The Boys, he’s proven that he’s one of the best there is at playing comic book tough guys. Perhaps a bit too good, even — after all, he’s already appeared in the MCU as Skurge the Executioner, Hela’s reluctant henchman in Thor: Ragnarok.
Of course, multiple actors have doubled up on MCU roles already: Gemma Chan, Alfre Woodard, Martin Starr, and Kenneth Choi, just to name a few. But with The Boys already renewed for a Season 4, it looks like Urban is going to be too busy for the X-Men for a while. Plus, at 50 years old, he’s already older than Jackman was in Logan, not to mention he’s a bit tall for the part at 6’1’’. But given his track record, it’s hard to deny that Urban would surely deliver a brilliant performance as Wolverine regardless.
Jared Keeso
One dark horse candidate that some fans have been rallying behind is Jared Keeso, creator and lead actor of the TV comedy Letterkenny and its spin-off Shoresy. Keeso stars in Letterkenny as Wayne, a tough-as-nails, quick-witted Canuck with an irritable attitude and a fiercely protective loyalty to his friends and family. Give the man some sideburns, and he’s practically Wolverine already. Plus, the more emotional scenes in Shoresy show that Keeso can play drama just as well as comedy.
Considering Marvel Studios’ tendency to cast lesser-known actors like Chris Hemsworth and Tom Holland as their more prominent heroes, it’s easy to imagine them going with a more obscure candidate for their Wolverine — after all, Hugh Jackman was hardly a household name before the first X-Men film. And while he’s a good bit taller than comic Logan at 5’10’’, Keeso is still significantly shorter than Jackman, or some of the other candidates on this list for that matter. And at 38, he’s young enough to stick around for a while in the MCU. Keeso may not be an A-lister, but that’s no reason to count him out.