Well, if you can believe it, it’s finally happening. Ever since Hugh Jackman first unleashed his claws in the first X-Men film back in 2000, fans have been eager to see him go full-berserker in an R-rated flick. As great as his portrayal has been in the film, the fact that he’s been in a PG-13 film has always meant that the blood would be minor or nonexistent (apparently claws don’t draw blood), and that his sailor mouth would have to be tempered. Had the restraints been off from day one, little Timmy wouldn’t have been able to see the film in theaters, and as a result, the films likely would not have been as successful as they’ve been.

But now, over fifteen years later, 20th Century Fox has finally developed enough confidence in the character to let a darker, more violent movie head into theaters. Sorry, little Timmy, but this time around, only adults will be able to see how the Wolverine saga ends. It’s a ballsy move for sure, but one that was proven possible by last year’s Deadpool — an R-rated comic book flick that managed to reel in $750 million worldwide.

With that in mind, and with the fact that Wolverine has been the biggest draw of any single X-Men character, you’d think that Fox would have full confidence going forward. Believe it or not, they had some real concerns at first. Speaking in a Q&A at the Recode Media conference, 20th Century Fox film chairman Stacey Snider expressed their original doubts.

“Inside, there was real consternation about the intensity of the tone of the film. It’s more of an elegy about life and death. The paradigm for it was a Western, and my colleagues were up in arms. It’s not a wise-cracking cigar-chomping mutton-sporting Wolverine, and the debate internally became, isn’t that freakin’ boring? Isn’t it exciting to imagine Wolverine as a real guy and he’s world-weary and he doesn’t want to fight anymore until a little girl needs him?”

While it’s definitely not the action and fantasy-packed romp that we’ve grown used to, but in the age of superhero movies, seeing something so different and outside the box is generally celebrated by fans. Yes, this Wolverine may be more grizzled and broken than the one we’ve seen in the past, but after fifteen years, it’s a side of the character we’re excited to see.

The trailers for Logan so far have been amazing, and if the film is able to deliver on all the promises it seems to be making with them, then we don’t see any reason why this couldn’t be the big hit Fox is hoping for. Let’s just hope that audiences are as supportive of bold, darker tones as we are.

Logan hits theaters on March 3, 2017.

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SOURCE: Variety