In 1999, a relatively unknown actor from Australia named Hugh Jackman was cast to play Wolveine, one of the most iconic and beloved characters in the X-Men comics universe. Hugh replaced Dougray Scott, the original choice for Wolverine in director Bryan Singer’s film X-Men. Hugh’s wife advised him not to take the role, which she later admitted she’s glad that he ignored her advice. Indeed, Hugh proved himself a fitting choice for the character, as he became an instant star with the approval of fans upon the movie’s release. 

In the second movie X2: X-Men United, Wolverine fought one of his arch nemesis, Lady Deathstrike (played by Chinese actress Kelly Hu). It was one of the highlights of the film as the fight scene was both visceral and thrilling, with both going at each other with their claws in beautiful choreography. Many fans have said that this fight scene is one of their favourite in the X-Men movies, we couldn’t agree more! 

In true unapologetic fashion, he gave X-Men teammate Cyclops (played by James Marsden) the rude sign subversively with his claws. Everyone loved this moment, as we all knew Cyclops (both in the comics and in the movies) was also his love rival for Jean Grey, the telepathic X-Man. 

Finally it happened in the third movie, X-Men: The Last Stand, Wolverine kissed Jean Grey (played by the beautiful Famke Janssen), the mutant he’s been having a “it’s complicated” relationship with in the movies. We didn’t count the kiss which happened in the second movie, since that one was with the shapeshifting mutant Mystique, who pretended to be Jean and seduced him. 

Even though X-Men: The Last Stand wasn’t well received, it had many great moments, and one which was also the most tragic. Forced to confront the Dark Phoenix force which consumed Jean Grey, Wolverine was the only one who could stop her (due to his regenerative powers), and he had to kill her by sticking his claws into the woman he’s loved and cared for.

Prior to Logan, Hugh Jackman also acted in two X-Men spinoff movies focusing on just the Wolverine character: X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Wolverine. In The Wolverine, you see him travel to Japan, and it thrilled fans as this was based on the “Japan Saga”, an important part of the character’s history. It’s also in this movie that Wolverine’s past with his one true love, Mariko Yashida (played by Japanese actress Tao Okamoto), was revealed. 

In the fifth X-Men movie, X-Men: Days Of Future Past – which brought together the cast of the original trilogy and the reboot X-Men: First Class – the Wolverine character was at the centre of the story as his consciousness was sent back in time to stop a possible dystopian future from happening. The best scene in the movie has got to be when Wolverine appeared naked; Hugh revealed that it was his idea to strip for the scene and that he applied no shortage of fake tan for his butt shot: “That is my butt with a lot of fake tan on it!” the good-humoured actor said.

In the sixth X-Men movie, X-Men: Apocalypse, which Hugh Jackman did not star in for the first time, he made a cameo which surprised everyone. Weapon X – a code name for the secret government project which turned mutants into weapons, and an important part of the character’s origin – made a brief appearance halfway through the movie in an electrifying action sequence which was pure fan service.

Not exactly a real father… but more like a father figure to the young mutant X-23 in Logan. This is the first time in all of the X-Men movies that the character is humanised on a deeper level, and really explores his emotions and psyche. 

The X-Men movie started with Professor X (played by the brilliant Patrick Stewart in the original trilogy) taking in the young Wolverine into his Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, and it now ends with both dealing with their personal problems and decline in Logan. We know for sure, given both actors’ experience and rapport with working with one another throughout the X-Men movies, that the end will be an amazing moment.