The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow and fans eagerly await the addition of both the Fantastic Fourand X-Men in the coming years. Among those X-Men, Wolverine is a casting decision that will be pivotal in the success of the mutants' implementation into the highly successful film series.
Over the years there have been dozens of MCU fan-castings, rumors, and actor interest tying plenty of actors to the role. Hollywood is home to thousands of actors, but it takes a special type of star power to take over an iconic Marvel role that was played by a singular character for the better part of two decades. The next Wolverine will show themselves sooner or later, but who will play them, and what era of the character will be displayed on the big screen in the MCU?
7 Multiverse/Fox Films - Hugh Jackman
This is the most unlikely thing that could happen, but leaving off the man who brought the character to the big screen for two decades wouldn't feel right. Hugh Jackman is Wolverine, and the reality is that any actor placed in his shoes to take over the role will be facing a steep uphill climb to win over audiences.
With the MCU introducing the idea of multiverses and an Avengers movie based on Secret Wars releasing in the near future, there is still a chance Jackman reprises the role for a cameo. Dreams of him being the person playing Wolverine in the MCU are just that, dreams.
6 Newcomer Wolverine - Daniel Radcliffe
Back in the 70s Marvel put a focus on returning the X-Men to the spotlight, which would now include Wolverine. This was before the days of the Logan moniker and the more grizzled look and feel of the Canadian mutant. An era that someone like Daniel Radcliffe could dive into and slowly evolve into the modern version of Wolverine. Radcliffe, despite seeing the success of the Harry Potter series showcase his talents in the role of the titular character, has seen some pushback to the idea of him playing Wolverine.
Though he matches the part stature-wise, fans argue he isn't bulky enough to take on the role, despite dozens of actors adding muscle mass when landing a superhero role. The real issue is likely that Radcliffe isn't traditionally handsome by Hollywood standards, and audiences believe Wolverine is that type of character. The reality is that the comic version of Wolverine is much shorter, angrier, and unconventionally attractive than what Hugh Jackman led people to believe.
5 Uncanny Wolverine - Joel Edgerton
It's unclear how old the MCU is going to portray Wolverine and the X-Men in general, but if the idea is making Wolverine an old and grizzled mutant, then Joel Edgerton may be the guy. Edgerton fits the look and feel of the Uncanny X-Men version of Wolverine developed by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne in the 1970s. He manages to combine the leading man factor, with an appearance that is both welcoming and intimidating at the same time.
Roles in projects such as the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series, The Green Knight, and Warrior have showcased his range. As talented as he is, it's weird that the MCU hasn't coveted his talents, but it's likely a matter of time before that ends up becoming a reality.
4 Frank Miller's Wolverine - John David Washington
In the 1980s Frank Miller, known for Sin City, 300, The Dark Knight Returns, and so much more, took on the challenge of making a 4-issue Wolverine miniseries. It focused a lot on the perspective of dealing with the agonizing pain Logan dealt with when it came to his romantic relationships. It dealt with him learning to manage his anger and find zen in the chaos. People reading this entry might immediately assume that there's no way John David Washington could play Wolverine due to his slighter frame.
The reality is that any actor cast into the MCU immediately goes on a training regiment and will undoubtedly turn into a superpower-wielding version of themselves, physically. For being such a great actor, it's strange that he hasn't made his way over to the marvelous film juggernaut. He's great at bringing both levity and a sense of self-seriousness to his roles. In recent years he's also managed to prove that he can be a leading man and carry a film alongside his co-stars. Washington may not be the first name that comes to mind with Wolverine, but the more one thinks about it the more interesting and welcoming the idea becomes.
3 Brawler Debut Wolverine - Taron Egerton
Most people tend to forget that Wolverine didn't make his entrance into comics via the X-Men, but rather The Incredible Hulk #180 and #181 in 1974. A bruising and angry brawler would catch the giant green machine off-guard, in the very same way someone like Taron Egerton would in the role. Egerton is in a weird place in terms of his fit in the MCU. The actor has been strongly tied to the Wolverine casting, but often the person most rumored to land the role ends up entering in a different capacity.
No one would ever deny that Egerton would likely kill the role thanks to his acting range and similar stature to the comic-accurate version of Wolverine, but it seems too good to be true. As the entrance of the mutants into the Marvel universe ever approaches, the time is ticking on whether or not Egerton will indeed be the grizzled and disgruntled wild man.
2 X-23 - Amber Midthunder
Now, the movie Logan introduced general audiences to Logan's female successor to the Wolverine name, but an adult version of Laura Kinney has yet to be portrayed. The recent release of Prey, despite heading straight to the streaming service Hulu, managed to not only refresh the Predator series but put a spotlight on actor Amber Midthunder. She served as the film's protagonist and won audiences over with her heartfelt performance.
There's been an idea floating around that casting Wolverine as an Indigenous character would be a neat and special take for the MCU's version of the character. If Kevin Fiege decides to go with Laura Kinney/X-23, the female Wolverine to change things up, it's hard to find a better person for the role than the recent standout Amber Midthunder.
1 Weapon X - Jeremy Allen White
Weapon X was an era for Wolverine where both the psychological and physical pain Logan endured was at the heart of the story. This story, brought to life by writer/artist Barry Windsor-Smith in 1991 seems like the perfect take for an actor like Jeremy Allen White. Jeremy Allen White is hot off the heels of the FX on Hulu series The Bear, that's garnered a ton of attention and critical acclaim. In the show, White plays a supremely talented chef tasked with taking over his late brother's restaurant.
Not only does White fit the physical stature of Wolverine from the comics, but he also happens to have the natural hair growth and hairline of the Adamantium weapon. Throughout The Bear, he showcases an ability to be steadfast and commanding as a leader, but also has points of vulnerability where he's in over his head and begins questioning his previous decisions. White may be a bit unconventional, but he has the acting chops and star power to bring a stellar performance of Wolverine to the MCU.