The X-MEN franchise is bigger than Wolverine. We all know it, and comic book fans, more than anyone, are likely looking forward to the day that Fox capitalizes on their non-Wolverine-related characters. That being said, we’d be fools to ignore the fact that Hugh Jackman’s Logan is a huge draw to the theaters for mainstream fans.

Over the years, the actor has given a solid interpretation of the immortal mutant, and with every X-MEN flick, it seems to be a big question as to whether or not he will make an appearance. With the exception of the recent DEADPOOL, Jackman has made an appearance in every single film in the franchise — though even in DEADPOOL, he appeared in an incredibly limited, non-physical, capacity.

This longstanding question continues with the upcoming release of X-MEN: APOCLAYPSE, a film that, by all accounts, logically wouldn’t have Wolverine in it. A film that, between stars like Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence, doesn’t really need the star power of Hugh Jackman to succeed. However, if a recent pull from Empire Magazine is any indication, we may indeed find Wolverine in the film.

According to Empire, our heroes end up in what may appear to be the Weapon X facility — the location where Wolverine gets his trademark adamantium claws. The description reads as follows.

“The quartet have been kidnapped by army twonk William Stryker following a cataclysmic event at the X-Mansion, and wake up in a holding cell. On a balcony above them, Stryker taunts his prisoners, demanding to know the whereabouts of Magneto.”

Comic Book Resources seems to believe that this line implies they will be in the Weapon X facility. While that may in fact be the case, it’s not entirely logical to conclude that this could lead to a Wolverine-appearance, as X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE past did leave us with some real head-scratchers. In the film’s closing scenes, we saw Stryker fish Wolverine out of the river — only to realize that it was Mystique masquerading as Stryker. So would it make sense for Wolverine to be in Stryker’s possession if it wasn’t Stryker who capture Wolverine to begin with?

A part of me thinks they may gloss over that fact, and if that’s the case, it seems plausible that Wolverine could be in the facility. However, given the timeline alteration, we can hardly expect the X-Men to find Wolverine…and to just leave him behind.

Director Bryan Singer has already gone on the record to say that the mutant didn’t fit into this particular story, stating, “As a central character, he didn’t fit into this particular story.”

So it’s clear that he won’t be central to the story, but even as an ancillary character, it would seem odd for him not to join the main plot. Were the characters to run into Wolverine, how would he not get wrapped up in the events, given his history with past Professor X, Magneto, Quicksilver, and Mystique?

What do you think about this reveal from Empire? Do you think we’ll run into a Wolverine in the film, and do you believe that line from the article implies the Weapon X facility? Let us know your thoughts down below!

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE hits theaters on May 27, 2016!

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SOURCES: Empire (via Comic Book Resources)