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Many fans will be surprised to learn that the relationship between Kevin Feige and Hugh Jackman goes way back to the latter’sX-Mendays. When Jackman came to audition for the last-minute role of Wolverine, Feige was a low-level producer’s assistant on the set. Jackman recalled Feige’s kindness to him when he felt that he had failed the audition.
The Prestigeactor would go on to land the iconic role in Bryan Singer’s film. He reprised the role for eight more films, before seemingly exiting from the role in 2017 afterLogan. However, Feige once again came into his life when he decided to take on the Wolverine mantle again for Ryan Ryenolds’Deadpool & Wolverine.
Kevin Feige Was Kind To Hugh Jackman DuringX-MenAudition
Bryan Singer’sX-Menwas left without an actor in one of the leading roles after filming began whenDougray Scottquit the Wolverine role. He was committed toMission: Impossible 2at the time and couldn’t finish it in time to join Fox’s superhero ensemble film.
Producers called back one Australian actor whom they had considered for the role initially.Hugh Jackmanwasn’t a big name back then and he jumped at the chance to audition again for the role. He read the lines in front of Singer and screenwriter Tom DeSanto, but he was not sure that he had impressed them.
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During an interview with EW,Kevin Feigerecalled that Jackman was originally rejected due to his height. But the now Marvel Head, who was a production assistant back then, took a liking to the actor and agreed to drive him to the airport. But before that, he first offered to take the relatively new actor to a dinner meal.
Jackman shared with EW that he tried to argue that he may not get the part and there was no need for Feige to take him to dinner. However, Feige insisted on having the meal and they had a nice steak dinner. It was an unforgettable moment in Jackman’s career.
When he wascast inDeadpool & Wolverineunder Feige’s MCU, it was life coming full circle forThe Wolverineactor. He shared withEW:
I said, ‘Kevin, we all know I’m not getting the part. You don’t have to do dinner.’ But no, he sat in there and had a steak dinner with me and then drove me to the airport. I’ll never forget it. That was the nicest thing. I thought I’ll never see him again.
Patrick Stewart, who played Professor X in the movies, recalled Jackman’s casting in the first movie in his memoir,Making It So: A Memoir. He wrote that he and the other actors wererooting for Jackmanto land the role because he had an“intangible star quality”(via SlashFilm).
Fans Will Never Forget What Kevin Feige Did For Hugh Jackman
After Hugh Jackman’s revelation was shared on X, fans couldn’t help but appreciate the Marvel President’s kindness. Kevin Feige has been at the receiving end of constant criticism from fans due to the current state of Marvel, but many believe thatDeadpool & Wolverinewill bring back fans’ faith in him.
One fan on X shared that Feige had the vision even back then and he could see that Jackman would land the role of Wolverine. Another fan praised Feige, calling him the“real one”for his kindness to Jackman. One fan mentioned that it was a beautiful story and added that no one could’ve played Wolverine better thanThe Greatest Showmanactor.
“Just as gory… just as foul-mouthed… just as R-rated”: Kevin Feige Praises Deadpool & Wolverine in a Way Brie Larson Wished He Did for The Marvels
One fan shared that Feige was always elite at identifying the right actors for the role. The fan believed that even in the recent below-average projects, the casting was on point. Some of the fan reactions read:
Kevin can see through everythinghe could see the vision and see Wolverine in Hugh!
Feige is a real onepic.twitter.com/oDUzqa6Bnu
beautiful story. no one will play wolverine better than hugh jackman and that’s a fact
Feige is elite at casting. No matter how bad some of the projects are to me it’s always been stories fault or tone not because I didn’t think the actor or actress was perfect for their role. My biggest ? He’s done recently is Pedro as Reed I’m guessing he proves me wrong.
What a classy move by Kevin Feige!
Feige is happy that he can bring back all the fan-favorite mutants under the same roof again. EvenRyan Reynoldsadmitted to EW that he never thought he could play Deadpool again after the acquisition. However, fans are thrilled thatDeadpool & Wolverineis now happening under the MCU banner.
The film is set to be released in theaters on August 12, 2025.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3019
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
