Now that Logan has officially hit theaters, we must set our sights on the future. Hugh Jackman is more than likely done with the X-Men universe at this point, and that means the future of Wolverine is hanging in the balance. It seems probable that someone will eventually step in to take the claws from Jackman, and now it appears that the current Wolverine actor would like to see Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan take on the role. Jackman explained:
I hope other people play him. Maybe Shah Rukh Khan can play him. Who knows, y'know?
Although western audiences might not be very familiar with that name, it seems that Hugh Jackman wants Shah Rukh Khan to replace him as Wolverine in the main X-Men universe, if 20th Century Fox decides to recast. Khan is a major force in the Indian film industry, and he has become known as the "King of Bollywood" in recent years. Although he doesn't instantly look like what you would expect a traditionally Canadian character like Wolverine to look like, he certainly has the physicality to replace Jackman, and he looks like a he can grow a mean set of sideburns.
Seriously, the guy's resemblance to the clawed badass is uncanny. Maybe this could really work.
It would make sense for an actor such as Shah Rukh Khan to make the transition to Hollywood for a major blockbuster role like Wolverine. Other Bollywood stars have made similar changes in recent years. From Irrfan Khan to Deepika Padukone, a large number of performers known for Bollywood work have made the transition to Tinseltown, and the most iconic silver screen X-Men character could be Khan's vehicle to perform a similar transition.
Of course, that's just Hugh Jackman's take on the matter, and this could go any number of different ways. Plenty of names have been thrown around with regards to actors who could replace Jackman's Wolverine in the X-Men universe -- ranging from Taron Egerton to Tom Hardy. There has also been a discussion of simply letting Dafne Keen grow up in the role of X-23, and allowing her to become the new Wolverine. Personally, I think that might be the best choice, as X-23 has all of the necessary Wolverine traits without any of the baggage of Jackman's portrayal. She's an entirely different character, so we won't inherently hold her to the Jackman standard.
What do you think? Do you like the idea of Shah Rukh Khan replacing Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, or do you think another actor should step in? Beyond that, do you think 20th Century Fox should even consider replacing Jackman anytime soon, or should Wolverine stay out of the X-Men universe for the foreseeable future? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
Perhaps we are a bit too premature with this discussion. With Hugh Jackman set to leave the role of Wolverine after Logan, we should take this time to enjoy our final days with his portrayal of the character. Logan is in theaters now, so make sure to check it out!
