Kevin Feige Initially Discouraged Hugh Jackman from Returning as Wolverine for Deadpool 3

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed he initially advised Hugh Jackman not to come back as Wolverine for Deadpool 3 to avoid tarnishing the legacy of his character’s death at the end of Logan.

“I said, ‘Let me give you a piece of advice, Hugh. Don’t come back,’” Feige told Empire magazine in a recent interview. “‘You had the greatest ending in history with Logan. That’s not something we should undo.’”

What changed Feige’s mind about Wolverine’s return was the multiverse concept of Deadpool & Wolverine, which Jackman told Empire was the deciding factor for him to reprise the role. The actor said the film will allow him to show “different sides of Wolverine we haven’t seen before in the movies. It was exciting for me.”

In a previous interview with SiriusXM, Jackman elaborated, “It’s all because of this device they have in the Marvel world of moving around timelines. Now we can go back because, you know, it’s science. So, I don’t have to screw with the Logan timeline, which was important to me. And I think probably to the fans too.”

Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine sees Jackman teaming up with Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool. Set to hit theaters on July 26th, it also stars Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, and Matthew Macfadyen. Revisit the latest trailer here.