Hugh Jackman is famous for playing Wolverine in Marvel and Fox movies, but his role as the X-Men mutant goes beyond just those films. He has brought Wolverine to life in other movies as well!
For instance, you wouldn’t expect to see Wolverine in a musical about King Arthur, right? But that’s exactly what happened in the 2014 movie Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. It’s a surprise appearance that will leave you laughing out loud and talking about it for days.
A Royal Surprise by Wolverine in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
In Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, things get out of hand when the museum exhibits come to life. In one funny scene, Sir Lancelot (played by Dan Stevens) bumps into a live stage show. And who’s the star of the show? None other than Hugh Jackman, playing King Arthur.
It’s a typical musical scene until Lancelot starts creating chaos on stage. Soon, after getting tired of Lancelot’s actions, Jackman drops the king act, removes his crown, and—surprise!—he’s Hugh Jackman.
Then, he does something even more surprising: he growls, bares his teeth, and looks like he’s about to pounce. The shocked Lancelot asks him, “What is that. What you did?” The actress playing Guinevere (Alice Eve) alongside Jackman replies:
He’s doing his Wolverine thing. It’s better with the claws and no shirt.
It’s a clear nod to his famous role as Wolverine in the X-Men movies. So, if you think Deadpool & Wolverine is the first time Jackman collaborated with director Shawn Levy, you are wrong.
Levy also directed Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, so the two had already collaborated before. No doubt, Hollywood is full of surprises. You never know who you might see or what they might do next.
Hugh Jackman Celebrates Wolverine Return in Deadpool & Wolverine
A big reason why Deadpool & Wolverine is so successful is Hugh Jackman coming back as Wolverine. Fans thought his time as the character ended with the tragic Logan, but this new film brings him back in a fresh way.
A few days back, Jackman took to Instagram to share a behind-the-scenes photo from the early days of the film. In the post, he shared how thrilled he is to play the same role again after 24 years. “Becoming Wolverine again is one of the most important moments of my life,” he wrote.
Many fans were anxious when they heard Jackman was returning as Wolverine after his emotional exit in Logan. But Deadpool & Wolverine has come up with a smart way to bring him back without ruining the ending of the earlier film.
In the new movie, Deadpool is a big fan of Wolverine and really wants him back. To find a new Wolverine, Deadpool travels to different worlds. He meets lots of different Wolverines, some good, some wicked. Finally, he finds one who is not happy and has made big mistakes in the past.
This Wolverine is tough and angry, but Jackman still plays him really well. So, even though this Wolverine is different from the old one, we still like him.
Deadpool & Wolverine is currently screening in theaters. Meanwhile, you can watch Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb on Disney+.
Frequently asked questions
Where else has Hugh Jackman referenced Wolverine outside the X-Men and Deadpool films?
Jackman slipped a Wolverine nod into 2014’s Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, where he plays King Arthur in a stage musical. When Sir Lancelot (Dan Stevens) disrupts the show, Jackman drops the royal act, growls, and bares his teeth like the mutant, prompting Guinevere (Alice Eve) to say, “He’s doing his Wolverine thing.”
Did Hugh Jackman and Shawn Levy work together before Deadpool & Wolverine?
Yes, more than once. Levy directed Jackman in the lead role of Real Steel back in 2011, then directed him again in the 2014 Night at the Museum cameo, and even got a voice cameo from Jackman in 2021’s Free Guy. So Deadpool & Wolverine wasn’t their first pairing or even their second – it capped a partnership that stretches back over a decade, with Real Steel as the true starting point.
How does Deadpool & Wolverine bring Jackman’s character back after Logan’s ending?
The film reportedly has Deadpool travel across different worlds searching for a Wolverine variant, encountering several versions before settling on one who is tough, angry, and burdened by past mistakes. This approach lets Jackman return as Wolverine without undoing the emotional ending established in Logan.
