X-Men: 8 Actors Who Could Succeed Hugh Jackman As Wolverine

Highlights

• Daniel Radcliffe, Tom Hardy, and Taron Egerton are strong contenders for the next Wolverine.
• Charlie Hunnam and Jensen Ackles also have the potential to embody the angry, primal Logan.
• Dafne Keen, as X-23, could bring a fresh twist to the character in the MCU X-Men.

Wolverine is one of the most popular characters in Marvel’s comic book history. As the wild wolf of the X-Men, Wolverine has always served as the ill-tempered murder machine with a heart of gold. His initial debuted on the X-Men cartoon show gave him even more fanfare, and thousands of fans cemented his position on the team as a result. During the early days of comic book movies, fans were stirred when Hugh Jackman was announced to play the role of Logan in the live-action X-Men movie. To the surprise of many, this actor fit into the role like a glove.

For over fifteen years, Jackman has snarled and growled his way through almost every X-men film and has pocketed the role as the best there is to play Wolverine. With his recent return to the role in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine film, it’s safe to say there could be much more Wolverine left on the table for Hugh Jackman. Still, if not, there are some hopefuls that could fill the large shoes left behind when Hugh Jackman finally makes his permanent exit from the role. Here are some of the best actors who could play Wolverine after Hugh Jackman.

8 Daniel Radcliffe

A Skilled Actor With Great Range

• Notable Roles: Beast of Burden, Guns Akimbo, Horns

The budding child star made famous by the Harry Potter franchise has grown into quite the accomplished actor, having stepped into drastically different roles than what many fans know him for.

Daniel Radcliffe has broadened his acting chops with strange roles like in the film Horns and even further showcased his range in the recent Weird film, in which he played Weird Al Yankovic. However, his roles in Beast of Burden and Guns Akimbo have some fans ready for him to step into something more visceral. Daniel Radcliffe matches the stature of the Wolverine and may have what it takes to get behind the claws.

7 Tom Hardy

A Perfect Match Who Is No Stranger To Comic Book Movies

• Notable Roles: The Dark Knight Rises, Venom

Tom Hardy is a walking tank of intimidation and is no newcomer to comic book movies. Having played Bane in Christopher Nolan’s Batman franchise and stepped into the roles of Eddy Brock for Sony’s Venom, one more leap into the Marvel Cinematic Universe would not be a stretch of anyone’s imagination.

Tom Hardy seems to have everything it takes to be a great Wolverine, with a large portion of the fanbase championing his casting. His acting ability speaks for itself, and he would ultimately bring something visceral to the role should he get the part.

6 Taron Edgerton

A Strong Contender With Experience Playing Serious And Comedic Characters

• Notable Roles: Black Bird, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Robin Hood

Taron Egerton stepped into the main spotlight in the movie Kingsman, where he played a London ruffian who is recruited to be an international super-secret agent. Egerton’s charisma and commitment to a role have sustained his stay in Hollywood, as the actor has appeared in several hit films since having even played Elton John in his biopic Rocketman.

While the Robin Hood actor is no stranger to action flicks, Egerton would have to put a lot into preparation to embody the threatening aura of Wolverine. Given his recent performance in Black Bird, it looks like there won’t be much of an issue should he get tapped to play the X-Man.

5 Charlie Hunnam

A Perfect Fit For An Angry Logan

• Notable Roles: Sons of Anarchy, Green Street, Rebel Moon

Charlie Hunnam has been a longstanding name in the hat of actors who should play the next Wolverine. He is famous for his role as the bloodthirsty outlaw in Sons of Anarchy, Jack Teller.

Fans all around the world say Charlie Hunnam has everything it takes to put on the yellow spandex and add his raspy tones to James Howlett. Possibly one of the best choices, Hunam’s performances across the board show how aggressive and primal he can be when needed, as the anger of his characters tends to seep through the screen with ease.

4 Jensen Ackles

A Strong Contender With Experience Playing A Superhero

• Notable Roles: Supernatural, The Boys

Jensen Ackles is another fan favorite who has been rumored for multiple superhero roles and even stepped into some in recent years. Becoming a top face on television after headlining the hit series Supernatural alongside co-star Jared Padalecki, Ackles portrayed the rough-riding demon hunter Dean Winchester.

Since the show’s ending, Jensen Ackles has also shown up in the sensational Amazon original The Boys as Soldier Boy, America’s first superhero. In both of his previous roles, Ackles has demonstrated a magnitude of range and a knack for being frighteningly intimidating.

3 Karl Urban

A Seasoned Veteran With A Lot To Offer

• Notable Roles: Thor: Ragnarok, Judge Dredd, The Boys

Karl Urban is a veteran of superhero roles in his own right, having at least featured in several box-office smashes throughout his career, appearing in Thor: Ragnarok and starring in the Judge Dredd reboot. Karl Urban has also garnered a large fanbase for his role in the original Lord of the Rings trilogy as Eomer.

Urban’s range is highly underestimated, and he’s proven time and time again that he has what it takes to step into almost any role, from a mild-mannered doctor in Star Trek to a vicious operative in Amazon’s The Boys. Stepping into the role of Wolverine would be an easy job, even if he’s not the spitting image of the character’s comic book appearance.

2 Dafne Keen

A Welcome Twist That Could Bring Something New To Wolverine’s Character

In the comics, Wolverine has multiple offspring and clones running around the Marvel universe, one of which is X-23, also known as Laura Kinney. As the genetic offspring of weapon X, Laura received similar mutations to Wolverine with bone claws and a healing factor.

In the comics, X-23 assumes the title of Wolverine after the character’s supposed death and dawns the blue and yellow outfit. Dafne Keen assumed the role of X-23 in the highly acclaimed Logan film and received high praise for her acting. Keen has expressed interest in reprising her role should the opportunity present itself, and it would be a great breath of fresh air for X-23 to take the spot on the upcoming MCU X-Men.

1 Glen Powell

An Underestimated Prospect With Great Range

• Notable Roles: Top Gun: Maverick, Hit Man

Glenn Powell has stepped into the pool of popular actors who could put on the claws and make a more than decent Wolverine. Fans may remember him as the mouthy fighter pilot from Top Gun: Maverick.

Glenn Powel’s character, Jake Seresin, came off more as a gambit or perhaps even a Scott Summers, but Powell’s acting has shown that he is not one-dimensional. With a little bit of practice and a few months of letting the hair grow, Glen Powell could be a perfect match for the next rendition of Wolverine on the big screen.