We've all seen how quite literally anything can happen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Heroes can fall, legends can rise, and the universes themselves can cross over as the most famous franchise in the world continues to open up possibility after possibility across the years. It's just never-ending when it comes to the MCU's potential.
We're coming up on Avengers: Doomsday - a movie that is set to define the franchise's current Multiverse Saga and perhaps even redefine the MCU as we know it. And the fans are ready for some major camoes. That in itself is a crazy thing to say because we already have some major confirmed returns in the upcoming film.
As the film draws near (it's now just a year away), one MCU star and Marvel veteran isn't ruling out a potential return in the near-future - especially as he has already done that before.
Hugh Jackman suggests he could return to the role of Wolverine as Avengers: Doomsday looms
During a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show Hugh Jackman contemplated the possibility of another return to the MCU as Wolverine. As host Graham Norton congratulated him on the success of 2024's Deadpool and Wolverine, which grossed over $1.3 billion and became the second-most successful movie of the year, he also asked the star if he would have to return to the role again. With a smirk, Jackman said "Maybe," obtaining a loud "ooooooh" from the audience. He then added a further comment:
"I’m never saying 'never' ever again... I did mean it until the day I changed my mind. I did mean it for quite a few years. I have done ten films now, so I think they have enough for an AI version of me!"
Jackman famously retired from the role of Wolverine in 2017's R-rated Logan, which brought the story of his X-Men character to an end. It was the closing of a chapter of his career - a chapter that began all the way back in 2000 with X-Men. He would go on to reprise the role in 2002's X2: X-Men United, 2005's X-Men: The Last Stand, 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 2013's The Wolverine, 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past, 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse, and then, finally, Logan.
His return in Deadpool and Wolverine was less about nostalgia and more about the beginning of a new chapter. This was an alternate version of the character, who finally got the chance to wear the legendary comic-accurate yellow and blue suit, and a version that could serve a major purpose in the franchise going forward. The Multiverse Saga allows the MCU to introduce X-Men characters for the first time - but we know that it will offer up more stories for the mighty mutants further down the line. And those are opportunities that could very well involve Jackman's Logan.
We know that Marvel Studios is currently developing its own X-Men movie, which means that the classic team is about to become canon in the MCU. Rumor has it that there won't be a new Wolverine, which is just further evidence that the franchise will bring the Deadpool and Wolverine iteration back in the near-future. After all, you can have an X-Men without a Logan.
That said, there may be a more imminent opportunity for him to appear.
Why Hugh Jackman may have just confirmed Wolverine's involvement in the next two Avengers movies
Marvel fans are now convinced that Jackman's "maybe" is a clear indicator that he will be involved in the upcoming Avengers movies. 2026's Avengers: Doomsday will crack open the final chapter in the MCU's Multiverse Saga while 2025's Avengers: Secret Wars will bring it to a close. Naturally, given how important to the saga that Deadpool and Wolverine was, audiences are hoping to see some kind of appearance from the titular duo.
Here's where things get interesting: Marvel Studios announced the cast for the former movie and even though Jackman's name wasn't among those listed, the vast majority of his X-Men co-stars are. That's right, we have Sir Patrick Stewart returning as Professor X and Kelsey Grammer returning as Beast - both of whom will make their second MCU appearances as the characters after cameos in previous movies - as well as Sir Ian McKellen's Magneto, James Marsden's Cyclops, Rebecca Romijn's Mystique, and Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler. Channing Tatum will also reprise his Deadpool and Wolverine role as Gambit, allowing him to live out the dream of starring alongside the X-Men in an MCU movie.
Therefore, audiences are hoping to see Jackman team up with them too. After all, we got to see Wolverine in his comic-accurate outfit; it is only fitting that he gets to join forces with the X-Men as they don theirs' too. It's what the people want, right?!
Although the star seemingly wasn't present for the film's primary production, reshoots will be taking place next year, which could allow for him to be more involved. Furthermore, there have been rumors that he will play a significant role in the 2027 sequel and, if that's the case, we could see a cameo appearance in Avengers: Doomsday to set up that bigger role.
Needless to say, fans have been longing to see Jackman return as the claw-wielding mutant in the not-too-distant future. And with Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: Secret Wars, and an X-Men movie on the horizon, there are a multitude of opportunities for it to happen. Here's hoping that Marvel makes it happen.
As Hugh says: Never say never!