Watch Hugh Jackman’s original Wolverine audition that DIDN’T land him the role

Will Perkins
·Blogger

Even in his very first "X-Men" audition, it’s difficult to separate Hugh Jackman from the role of Wolverine.

And it’s no wonder. The Australian actor has now played the part of clawed Canadian mutant Logan in seven films (more times than any modern actor has played a single superhero), the first being 2000’s “X-Men” and the most recent current box office champ “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”

The Wolverine role undoubtedly helped make Jackman’s career what it is today. But did you know that he wasn’t the first choice to play Logan? He wasn't even the second choice!

Despite what was a pretty great audition, Jackman (an unknown at the time) didn't get the part in “X-Men” originally. Director Bryan Singer wanted “Gladiator” star Russell Crowe to play the part, but the actor turned down the role over salary demands.

Then Wolverine was supposed to be played by Scottish actor Dougray Scott, who was then best known for playing Prince Henry in the Drew Barrymore headlined fairy tale “Ever After: A Cinderella Story."

So what happened? Why didn't Scott end up playing Wolverine?

Scott had the part. He was to be the big screen version of Wolverine – one of the most popular comic book characters of the 1990s – and was even signed on for the sequel. However, a series of unfortunate events, including a shoulder injury and a longer-than-planned shoot on John Woo’s “Mission: Impossible II” (Scott played that film’s villain), meant that the actor had to miss “X-Men's” planned fall 1999 start date. So, 20th Century Fox and director Singer were forced to recast Wolverine.

Scott’s loss was Jackman’s gain, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Jackman will likely reprise the Logan role again for "X-Men: Apocalypse" and the as-yet-untitled "Wolverine 3" (bringing his X-tally to an astounding nine films), but by the time those films are in theatres the actor will be nearly 50. It's likely he'll hang up the claws and pass the role on to a younger actor. Big shoes to fill, no doubt.

It makes you wonder if the "X-Men" franchise would have been the success it's been without Jackman as everyone's favourite Canuck superhero.

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