Australian actor Hugh Jackman picks Tom Hardy as his potential successor for ‘The Wolverine’

Hugh Jackman has said that he would like to pass on his Wolverine legacy to a younger actor -- Tom Hardy. The Australian actor has been reprising this role for over the last 15 years, and his last outing as the six-clawed character will be in “Wolverine 3.”

Jackmal did not drop his successor’s name outrightly. In an interview with MTV News (Via Variety), he said, “I haven’t really given it a lot of thought,” adding, “I’ve been asked that question a lot, and I’m always like, ‘I don’t wanna make it too easy on the studio to replace me,’ you know?”

“I’ve still got one more to do. I’m sure they’re already talking about it, and there’s some actor [they’ve told] ‘shh, keep it quiet but we want you next,'” he said.

After giving a good thought on who could possibly play his role, the Australian actor, who was first cast as Wolverine in Bryan Singer's “X-Men” released in 2000, dropped Hardy’s name, saying, “He’s younger than me for sure. I think Tom Hardy would be a great Wolverine.”

If Hardy signs on to play Wolverine, it will not be his first comic book-based film, as he has played the antagonist in “The Dark Knight Rises.” Also he has proven his mettle as an actor in films such as “Fury Road,” where he played Mad Max. Meanwhile, there are rumours swirling that Hardy has bagged a leading role in feature adaptation of another comic book series “Hundred Bullets”.

For Jackman, “The Wolverine” franchise and “X-men “series have served as stepping stones to success in Hollywood, and he has made his mark as one of the best Australian exports to Hollywood. The actor may or may not make a guest-appearance in future “X-men” projects.

The production on “The Wolverine 3” is set to begin next year, and it is scheduled to release in March 2017. The production studio 20th Century Fox has not yet made an official announcement on who will succeed Jackman.

Jackman, meanwhile, is playing a negative character in the prequel to Peter Pan, “Pan,” which released on Oct. 24 in Australia. He is playing a ruthless pirate, Blackbeard, in the film.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.