What if Hugh Jackman hadn’t played Wolverine? Would that have been the darkest timeline? 2000’s initial X-Men film was not the first attempt to get that franchise off the ground, and as a result many actors where considered over the years for the role of Logan. When the project was in development in 1989, Wolverine writer Chris Claremont wanted Bob Hoskins for the role. Keanu Reeves, Viggo Mortensen, and Dougray Scott were all considered for the 2000 iteration. And in the late ’90s, Russell Crowe basically had the job. 

Crowe was reportedly a front-runner for the part, but turned down the role for reasons he gave on Nova’s Fizty and Wippa radio show, reports News.Com:

“Bryan [Singer, X-Men director] was a friend at the time and he was really putting the pressure on… If you remember, Maximus has a wolf at the centre of his cuirass, and he has a wolf as his companion … which I thought was going to be a bigger deal [at the time]. So I said no, because I didn’t want to be ‘wolfy’, like ‘Mr Wolf’.”

Though the X-Men films have their ups and downs, Hugh Jackman always delivered a great Wolverine, and Logan is simply one of the best comic book films, so I wouldn’t change the course of history for a chance at Crowe’s Wolverine. That being said, Crowe was a really strong choice. Fear of typecasting can really drive an actor to pass up some very profitable and iconic roles, as this is not the first instance of such a decision from an A-List actor. I do fear that if Crowe had accepted the role, his higher level of fame at the time, combined with his love of Oscar-fare, would have resulted in fewer appearances of the mutant or an earlier recast. 

I say we throw away the time machine and stick to the timeline we got! Keanu Reeves certainly would have been the darkest timeline.

Do you think Russell Crowe would have made a good Wolverine? Who would you cast today? Fox may need your help… Let us know in the comments below!

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SOURCE: Nova’s Fizty and Wippa via News.Com