Getting to know Wolverine

Writer: Lai Swee Wei

Cinnamon the Lion with Hugh Jackman!

21 Apr – Perhaps the online leak scandal may have worked in its favour – as Hugh Jackman's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" will open in most territories next week to a frenzy of fans still loyal to the series.

Recently appearing at a much publicised press junket on Cockatoo Island in Sydney, Australia, the star was just as excited as the fans, enthusiastically jumping off stage in between Q&A sessions to take photos with the crowd over the waist-high barricade.

Many know him as Wolverine but this is the first time the series is coming out with one movie just on him. To the uninitiated, Hugh Jackman has been playing Wolverine since the first movie in 2000, where he catapulted to international recognition as a feral superhero with sharp one-liners.

In the heat of this "X-Men" prequel focusing on the adamantium-clawed mutant, Jackman divulged a bit more about his character's emotions during an interview with Cinema Online. Clad in a body-fitting black t-shirt, the Australian father of two said: "Wolverine has experienced a lot of pain and trauma in his life. There's the first time those bone claws come out and there's his father who he didn't think was his father. From there, there's a love story that is quite tragic as well, so he's someone who's known pain from the beginning."

Jackman with fans

"He's a warrior, he's fought his whole life and there's a certain point where he's had enough of it, and tries to get away. But really, this story is about a man who is fighting with who he is. Is he an animal or is he human?" he added, careful not to reveal any spoilers.

Wolverine is back!

On possible Wolverine sequels or other character prequels, he replied: "We'll probably know around May if there's ever going to be another Wolverine but for the other characters, there are things being planned and I'm not involved, but I know that they do have ideas to use other characters in other films."

Word on the Net is that David Goyer (scriptwriter for the rejuvenated Batman franchise) is working on another spinoff movie - "X-Men Origins: Magneto".

With regards to the unfinished film that has been leaked online, Jackman insisted that it was very unfair. "If you know anything about the business, it's like taking a picture of a bride before she has her hair done or make-up on."

Looks like the bride will be unveiled next week. We'll just have to see how good she really looks.

Catch "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" in Singapore and Malaysia this 29 April 2009!