Fans of the X-Men were recently dealt a blow when they learned that the spin-off film starring Dafne Keen’s character, Laura Kinney, better known as X-23, had been canceled. In a recent interview, Logan director James Mangold explained why the project was scrapped, blaming the Disney-Fox merger.
Hugh Jackman, the legendary actor who played Wolverine, played a major role in deflating expectations that he would appear in the spin-off. Since Jackman has stated unequivocally that he will not be involved as a producer, James Mangold’s plans for the Logan spin-off have been effectively canceled.
The Director’s Hopes and Marvel’s Disinterest
The news of the project being scrapped crushed fan’s expectations. Mangold has praised Dafne Keen’s incredible talent and the depth she brought to the character in multiple interviews, praising her remarkable performance.
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He seemed genuinely interested in learning more about X-23 and the prospect of making a movie about her alone. Fans had hoped that Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine in the original films, would join Keen in the spin-off, but Jackman has since ruled out any involvement with the project, including the producer role.
However, Jackman did express his excitement to watch the film as a fan, praising Keen’s exceptional portrayal of X-23 and disappointing fans who had hoped to see him remain involved in the X-Men universe.
Hugh Jackman and the End of the X-Men Franchise
Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine is a major factor in the series’ overall success. However, Jackman decided to call it quits after seventeen years and numerous appearances as the iconic mutant with his final performance in Logan. The actor’s refusal to participate in the X-23 spin-off was a major setback for the franchise.
Jackman flatly denied being involved as a producer on the potential Laura Kinney sequel. His refusal to continue as Wolverine disappointed many fans who had hoped for his return, even though he expressed enthusiasm to watch the film as a fan.
“No, I won’t be a producer on a Laura sequel. But I will be lining up on the Thursday night at 10 p.m. to watch it though. She is just phenomenal.”
Hugh Jackman’s decision to retire the character appeared permanent, leaving fans to speculate about who would succeed him as Wolverine. One of the many casualties of Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox was canceling the Logan spin-off.
The agreement had far-reaching consequences, not only for the X-Men series but also for other projects that had been in the works. An X-Men/Fantastic Four crossover, a Gambit movie starring Channing Tatum, a Deadpool/X-Force spinoff, a Doctor Doom movie, and many other rumored projects never materialized, disappointing fans.
Due to the acquisition, the X-Men franchise as fans knew it had to come to an end. The introduction of mutants into the MCU, however, opened up interesting avenues for future plots and characters. With Marvel Studios at the helm, the reimagined X-Men universe should fit in well with the existing MCU, bringing a new lease on life to the fan-favorite mutants.
Source: The Direct
