Hugh Jackman's uproarious final turn in the "Wolverine" franchise debut at the Berlin film festival Friday, as he acknowledged he shed a few tears saying "bye" to the juggernaut role.
Logan is created on a Marvel comic run about the aging Wolverine called Old Man Logan published in 2008. Director James Mangold and the writers have been at work for eight years. Imagine that! Yet, the script turned out to be reflective of the Trump era.
Successful Movie Debut At The Berlin Film Festival
"Before the whole debate about the wall, the border scenes were there in the film," Jackman said in an interview at the Berlin Film Festival, where the film had its world premiere on Friday night.
Jackman, 48, has been in the Wolverine in the X-Men role in films and its spin-offs for the past 17 years. "But I don't feel I've got the heart of the character until this film." He said. "There was a lot on a silver platter for me. I wanted to make a film that someone who has never seen a comic book movie, something out of."
Reaction in Berlin was optimistic, and the film picks up soon as Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hideout on the Mexican border.
Jackman Is "Wolverine" All The Way But Does It Become A Political Movie Set?
"The reason I never turned down, I say 'yes' always to this film is because of the great stories. Stories that are reflected our existence and help us to comprehend that we need to reach out beyond ourselves. Should we separate or should we connect? I hope there are positive vibes here that make individuals think about their own lives."
Jackman admitted had a tearful moment during the film's soft scenes: one where he is piggy-backing Laura, a 10-year-old mutant with a lesser version of his claws, or the moments when he is caring for the tormented, wheelchair-bound Professor X (Patrick Stewart).
Stewart, who was also at the press conference, took the chance to declare his discomfiture over the vote last year for Brexit. "Sitting in front of you here at a European film festival, I am embarrassed by being from a country that has chosen to leave Europe," he said.
"The vote only went the way it did because people were lied to and misled. It is a calamitous mistake, and on the part of all of us who wanted to remain, I apologize."
He also recognized the subtext in Logan, a story of creatures created and then rejected by the society that made them. "We did not set out to make a political movie, but there are references that are unexpected."
Jackman was clear that he doesn't intend to play the Wolverine again. He doesn't think he will miss the alter ego who made him an international domestic name, even after all these years."Because he's not going anywhere; he's part of who I am and something I'm very, very grateful for.
Fans will remind me every day of my "Wolverine" career and what we got right and wrong."In fact, fans anticipating the release of Logan have spent months online tearing their virtual hair over Jackman's aged-up appearance, pondering whether his grizzled look is the result of make-up or just the advancing years. They can rest easy: on the Berlin platform, Jackman looks as youthful as ever.
