According to latest reports, the upcoming installment of the "X-Men" movie franchise titled "The Wolverine" which stars Hugh Jackman will be shot in Australia.

The potential blockbuster was due to be filmed in Japan last year but the devastation from the tsunami and earthquake that hit in March put production on hold. Meanwhile, the Sydney-born actor who will reprise the role of the metal-clawed, muscled-up mutant that made him famous said that he is more than excited to return to Australia.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" which is the fourth film in the franchise and a prequel to the original trilogy was also filmed in Australia in 2008.
"It will be great to work with the highly talented crew and to provide employment opportunities to so many people across all levels of the industry," Jackman said in a statement.

"Not to mention, Deb and I will get to spend some time with the family back in Australia," he added referring to his wife.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the movie would result in over AUS$80 million of investment in Australia and create more than 2,000 jobs.

"This new chapter in the Wolverine series will help develop the skills and experience of our film sector with jobs that we want to keep here in Australia, not overseas," she said.

"A healthy Australian film sector is essential if we are to produce and see Australian content at the cinema, on our TV screens and online into the future," the Prime Minister added.

Also, "The Wolverine" will receive federal government assistance of nearly $13 million in a one-off tax-offset incentive according to Prime Minister Julia Gillard. "Without this effective tax-offset incentive, the producers would not have chosen Australia as the location," she further shared in a statement.

In recent years, the rising Australian dollar has made filming here more expensive for overseas producers. Other large-scale productions to have been filmed in Australia include "The Great Gatsby," "Lego," "Walking with Dinosaurs" and "Happy Feet 2."

However, production is not the only setback that the film "The Wolverine" has encountered. "Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky also walked away from the project last March. Jackman has been friends with Aronofsky since starring in "The Fountain" in 2006 but the director left because he did not want to leave his family for more than a year during the overseas shoot.

Now, "Walk The Line" director James Mangold is helming the project. "The Wolverine" is scheduled for release in July 2013.