Talking about the intense persona of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, we guess nobody would like the role to be played by someone else. Well, Jackman was not the only one destined to play the role, there were quite a few other actors who almost rigged out themselves for the role. Check out these ten actors who almost played Wolverine.
Bob Hoskins
Chris Claremont who penned the role of X-Men, wanted Bob Hoskins to play Wolverine, who died in 2014. He envisioned Hoskins as the ideal candidate for the role who was once Weapons X.
“Over the course of the three films he evolved on screen in much the same manner he evolved in the comic. The Wolverine quite naturally becomes the core essence of the group. It would have been interesting if we’d done it 25 years ago and I’d gotten my wish and Bob Hoskins had played him” Claremont said in a report by What Culture.
Edward Norton
Edward Norton passed on the role of Wolverine during the time when X-men movies were totally high in the season. Before stepping into 2008 The Incredible Hulk, Norton had been approached for various comic movie roles.
Dougray Scott
Dougray Scott was originally destined to be Wolverine before Hugh Jackman. In 2000, Scott signed Mission Impossible II, where he played the role of villain. Due to his shooting schedules with the film, he had to drop out the role.
Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe was once approached for the coveted role of Wolverine and later helped Hugh Jackman to get the role. In an interview with EW, Jackman said: “ Russell and I actually became very close friends. We were good friends before. We knew each other a lot. And Russell has given me advice several times at key moments in my life that helped with my career. I also owe him because two of the biggest roles I’ve ever had in my life, he turned down – and suggested me for them.”
“On X-Men, he was Bryan Singer’s first choice for Wolverine, and he mentioned me also for [Baz Luhrmann’s] Australia,” he added.
Glenn Danzig
In the mid-90s, Misfits former frontman Glenn Danzig was offered to play the role of Wolverine. Though he had never acted in any movie, the singer turned down the role due to the ongoing schedules for his band’s ninth-month world tour.
Thomas Jane
Producers of the X-Men wanted to see Thomas Jane for an audition, but due to some contract issues with the team, he turned down one of the most iconic roles in the Hollywood industry.
Viggo Mortensen
Walking down through the Kingdoms of Middle Earth and playing a mutant with retractable metal claws is way too much for a man, so as with Viggo Mortensen.
Aaron Eckhart
Aaron Eckhart may have dropped the role of a superhero, but he played the role of super villain. He is the one who kept the character, Two-Face, alive in The Dark Knight.
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme is one of the best action stars, who is an expert martial artist, a producer, and a director. Imagine this badass having retractable metal claws. Not bad by the way, but he didn’t get the role.
Gary Sinise
If Lt. Dan Taylor had gained mutant powers he would not have to lose his legs and he would not probably join the Forrest Gump.
