10 Most Popular MCU Wolverine Casting Choices, Ranked

Summary

Henry Cavill played Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine and could return for the MCU’s X-Men reboot.
Dafne Keen’s X-23 could serve as a seamless transition to become the new Wolverine in the MCU.
Daniel Radcliffe is a top choice to replace Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, given his experience with a major franchise and popularity.

There are many fan-favorite names to take over for Hugh Jackman as the new Wolverine and some of them would fit the Marvel Cinematic Universe better than others. Jackman first played Logan in 2000’s X-Men, which he continues to do to this day. After appearing in Fox’s X-Men movies and a Wolverine trilogy, Jackman has returned to the role in the MCU, headlining Deadpool & Wolverine‘s cast with Ryan Reynolds.

The movie has become one of the most successful in Marvel history, with Deadpool & Wolverine passing the $1 billion mark worldwide. Reynolds and Jackman could return for more entries in the MCU’s slate of projects, but based on Jackman’s age — he is 55 — it is unlikely that he will stick around for Marvel’s X-Men reboot. On that topic, there have been many actors requested by fans to play the MCU’s Wolverine, and some could really work.

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10 Scott Eastwood

His Father Was An Inspiration For Wolverine

At 38, Scott Eastwood is at a great age to play the MCU’s Wolverine. While other members of the X-Men could be in their 20s, Wolverine is a character that suits slightly older actors, so there should not be a problem in that regard if Eastwood were cast. In 2018, Eastwood revealed he would love to play Wolverine, saying, “He’s one of my favorite comic book characters of all time… 100%.”

Playing in his favor is also the fact that Scott’s father, the legendary actor Clint Eastwood, has served as the inspiration for many versions of Wolverine. That would mean his son’s casting would be a big deal for the MCU. However, it is unlikely that Eastwood will play Marvel’s new Wolverine. The reason is that Scott does not have many leading roles in major projects, and for a character as popular as Logan, Marvel should go for a well-known star.

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9 Keanu Reeves

The Actor Is Too Old For The Hero

Keanu Reeves being this low on the list might come as a shock to many, as the actor is a very popular name when it comes to fancasting Wolverine. Reeves has shown in the John Wick franchise and other movies that he could bring the necessary grit to the role and has the action skills to make the MCU’s Wolverine one of the franchise’s most exciting fighters to watch. However, there is a key issue.

Reeves is 59. With the actor being older than Hugh Jackman, it would not make sense for Marvel Studios to cast him as the iconic Wolverine actor’s replacement. That does not mean that Reeves will never play Wolverine, as the actor could make a cameo as a multiverse Logan. After all, Reeves has said he always wanted to play Wolverine.

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8 Tom Hardy

The Actor Already Leads A Superhero Franchise

Tom Hardy has been one of the most popular fancasts to play Wolverine for a long time. The actor could certainly do the role justice in the MCU, with Hardy being good at playing gruff characters like Logan. He also has the physicality for the role, with the star having plenty of high-profile action roles and franchises under his belt.

Playing against him is the fact that Hardy is on the older side, and the actor is already the face of a prominent Marvel figure. While not an MCU franchise, Hardy gives life to Eddie Brock/Venom in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Even though Venom: The Last Dance should put an end to Hardy’s time in the role, the actor has already appeared in the MCU as Eddie Brock. Hardy could eventually return to the MCU, but it is unlikely he will be Wolverine.

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7 Karl Urban

A Pitch-Perfect Wolverine Match

Karl Urban being 52 is really the only thing against his Wolverine casting. The actor would otherwise be pitch-perfect for the MCU’s Logan. Urban is no stranger to major franchises, playing key roles in The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and The Boys. Urban has previously appeared in the MCU. However, given Skurge in Thor: Ragnarok was not a major role, and Urban looked fairly different, Marvel could get him back for Wolverine.

As Billy Butcher in The Boys, Urban has shown how perfect he would be if he got the chance to play Wolverine. In that role, the actor exhales the non-nonsense, hyper-violent persona Wolverine is known for. Urban also has plenty of experience with fight scenes, being able to deliver a Wolverine that would have fans on the edge of their seats. Age aside, Urban would be the perfect new Wolverine.

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6 Aaron Taylor-Johnson

A Younger Star With Marvel Experience

Aaron Taylor-Johnson was once in the MCU, playing Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Due to the short-lived nature of his character, there should be no problem for Marvel to recast Taylor-Johnson as another MCU hero, with Wolverine being a great role for the actor. Johnson’s other Marvel character — he will lead Sony’s Kraven the Hunter movie later this year — makes him an even better fit to serve as the MCU’s new Wolverine.

With Robert Downey Jr. of all people returning to the MCU in a major role like Doctor Doom, Aaron Taylor-Johnson going from Quicksilver to Wolverine is not impossible.

Kraven the Hunter‘s new trailer cements that Taylor-Johnson is one of the best candidates to play the new Wolverine. The actor looks great in the R-rated footage, with his version of Kraven brutally taking out enemies in a bloody, R-rated fashion. That would fit with Jackman’s most popular Wolverine movies, Logan and Deadpool & Wolverine. At 34, Taylor-Johnson could play Wolverine for more than a decade.

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5 Zac Efron

A Frequently Requested Actor For The MCU

Zac Efron still not having joined Marvel or DC at this point is baffling. The actor is one of Hollywood’s most popular stars and has the physicality needed for any superhero role out there, and Efron himself would be open to doing it. Speaking about the MCU in the past, Efron revealed how much he loves Marvel, saying, “I’ve been a fan of Marvel since I started walking… I would jump at the opportunity.”

The actor delivered a nuanced and emotional performance [in
The Iron Claw
] that shows how lucky Marvel would be to cast him as the face of the MCU’s X-Men.

With Efron open to joining the MCU, the actor, who has worked with Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman, would be one of the best choices to replace the iconic Wolverine star. Efron recently had his career-best performance in the wrestling drama The Iron Claw. The actor delivered a nuanced and emotional performance that shows how lucky Marvel would be to cast him as the face of the MCU’s X-Men, with Efron’s physical prowess for the role being well-documented by his past movies.

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4 Taron Egerton

The Actor Has Commented On Playing Wolverine

Another one of Hugh Jackman’s co-stars who could play the MCU’s new Wolverine in the X-Men reboot is Taron Egerton. The 34-year-old actor worked with Jackman in Eddie the Eagle. Egerton was initially unsure about playing Wolverine, saying, “I don’t know if I’m quite grisly enough,” though the actor has met with Marvel and would love to be part of the MCU in some way.

Egerton has also been more open to playing Wolverine, saying, “Hopefully if it does come around, they’ll give me a shot.” Egerton’s worries about giving life to a new version of Logan seem to stem from Jackman’s legacy in the role, which is a tough thing to tackle. However, the actor has shown in the Kingsman franchise, the Black Bird series, and other projects that he has incredible range and is adept at action and drama, making him a great Wolverine casting choice.

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3 Henry Cavill

He Has Already Played Wolverine In The MCU

Henry Cavill is an interesting choice to play the new Wolverine, as the actor has already given life to a version of Logan in the MCU. Deadpool & Wolverine used the multiverse to the fullest, including many exciting cameos and supporting characters. Shockingly, Cavill moved from DC to Marvel for the film, leaving his role as Superman behind in order to play a Wolverine variant in a brief scene with Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool.

Cavill looked extremely comic book-accurate in the role, also nailing Wolverine’s personality. The cameo was so good that many fans now want the actor to return as Wolverine in the MCU’s X-Men reboot. At 41, Cavill could at least play Wolverine for a decade, and his role as Geralt of Rivia on Netflix’s The Witcher shows how the actor could excel in a longer role as Wolverine, given the characters possess many similarities.

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2 Dafne Keen

Deadpool & Wolverine’s Ending Leaves The Door Open

Dafne Keen’s X-23 has a long history with Jackman’s Wolverine. The actress’ return as Laura in Deadpool & Wolverine was one of the most emotional parts of the movie. Appearing for the first time as the character since 2017’s Logan, Keen did not skip a beat, forming a loving bond with the Wolverine variant Jackman was playing in the movie and delivering another fan-favorite turn in the role.

There is an ongoing debate about how recasting Jackman’s Logan is incredibly hard or impossible, and Keen presents the easiest solution to that problem. Marvel does not need to recast Wolverine, as the studio could just keep Keen as X23 in the MCU and make her Wolverine instead. Deadpool & Wolverine‘s ending had Laura with Deadpool and Wolverine, teasing a future return when the heroes likely come back for one or both of the upcoming Avengers movies.

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1 Daniel Radcliffe

The Most Popular MCU Wolverine Casting Choice

Finally, if Marvel Studios does end up recasting Wolverine, then the best actor to play the MCU’s Logan would be Daniel Radcliffe. The star knows a thing or two about carrying a multi-billion dollar franchise on his back, as Radcliffe played none other than Harry Potter for eight movies. At 35, the actor is the perfect age — and has the perfect height at 5’5” — to play the MCU’s Wolverine in the X-Men reboot.

Since leaving Harry Potter behind, Radcliffe has pursued a wide range of roles that show how the actor is extremely talented. Radcliffe has also undergone a major physical transformation, with the star looking in top shape these days to play a superhero at Marvel. At the moment, the actor is the most popular fancast for the MCU’s Wolverine, and that could have him on Marvel Studios’ radar.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine pg-13 Where to Watch
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After Bryan Singer’s X-Men trilogy, Hugh Jackman returns as the titular clawed mutant in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The 2009 superhero movie explores Logan’s origins with a look back at Weapon X, the experiment that covered his skeleton with adamantium. It marks Ryan Reynolds’ first appearance as Wade Wilson a.k.a. Deadpool, and it precedes James Mangold’s The Wolverine and Logan, which retroactively make Origins the first installment in a solo trilogy for Jackman’s iconic Marvel hero.

Director Gavin Hood Release Date April 30, 2009 Writers Gavin Hood Cast Hugh Jackman , Ryan Reynolds , Liev Schreiber , Taylor Kitsch Runtime 107minutes Franchise(s) X-Men Expand
The Wolverine PG-13 Where to Watch
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Based on the 1982 comic event “Wolverine,” The Wolverine takes place after X-Men: The Last Stand and follows Logan on a journey to Japan at the behest of a former acquaintance. Living in isolation after the world-changing events in the prior movie and haunted by the death of the woman he loved, Logan is found and asked to travel to Japan to meet with a man named Ichiro, who he had saved during World War II. At the end of his life, Ichiro offers Logan a chance to free himself of his healing abilities to finally die by taking them for himself. However, Logan soon learns that Ichiro’s intentions for immortality are far less honorable than he had expected, leading him to struggle to face off with a former ally.

Director James Mangold Release Date July 26, 2013 Writers Mark Bomback , Christopher McQuarrie Cast Famke Janssen , Will Yun Lee , Brian Tee , Hugh Jackman Runtime 2h 6m Franchise(s) The Wolverine Expand
Logan R Where to Watch
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Logan sees the titular hero, AKA Wolverine, in his twilight years as his healing factor has begun to fail him, and he has begun to age more rapidly. Set several years in the future, Logan finds himself caring for an ailing Professor Xavier, whose mind has begun to succumb to dementia, making him an incredibly dangerous mutant that can cause widespread destruction accidentally. But when the preoccupied Logan is asked to meet with a woman that requests he transports a young girl to a mutant haven known as Eden, he learns that she may have his DNA and that the fate of mutant-kind may rest in her hands.

Director James Mangold Release Date March 3, 2017 Writers Michael Green , Scott Frank , James Mangold Cast Hugh Jackman , Patrick Stewart , Dafne Keen , Elizabeth Rodriguez , Daniel Bernhardt , Richard E. Grant , Doris Morgado , Boyd Holbrook Runtime 137 Minutes Franchise(s) X-Men Expand
Deadpool & Wolverine R
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.

Director Shawn Levy Release Date July 26, 2024 Writers Rhett Reese , Paul Wernick , Shawn Levy , Ryan Reynolds , Zeb Wells , Rob Liefeld , Fabian Nicieza Cast Ryan Reynolds , Hugh Jackman , Emma Corrin , Morena Baccarin , Rob Delaney , Leslie Uggams , Karan Soni , Matthew Macfadyen , Brianna Hildebrand , Shioli Kutsuna , Stefan Kapicic , Lewis Tan , Randal Reeder , Jennifer Garner , Aaron Stanford , Billy Clements , Ollie Palmer , Chris Hemsworth , Rob McElhenney Runtime 127 Minutes Franchise(s) Deadpool , Marvel Cinematic Universe Expand

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