James Mangold in Talks for The Wolverine Sequel

It looks like THE WOLVERINE team of Hugh Jackman and James Mangold might be reuniting once again...

And yes, this is for another serving of Canadian Berserker goodness.

Deadline reports today that Mangold is currently in talks with Fox for another go with James Howlett after next year's X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. Also returning to the fold (if negotiations push through) is producer Lauren Shuler Donner who worked with the two closely for this year's mutant movie.

I loved The Wolverine and I'm hoping its the same quality. 

THE WOLVERINE's Adamantium-Strength Opening at P95 Million

"The Wolverine" ripped through new box-office highs earning P95 million on its four-day opening weekend in the Philippines and has now seized the Biggest Opening Weekend title for a Fox film all-time and is now the Highest Opening Weekend in the X-Men franchise.

Hugh Jackman's 6th donning of the adamantium-clawed hero evidently drew a stronghold of supporters and fans when "The Wolverine" yielded a solid P19 million earn on its opening day (July 25) with a tallied admission of 105, 045 in more than 300 screens in the country. The first opening day figure of "The Wolverine" ebbed down "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith's" hold as the Biggest Opening Day for a Fox film All-Time. Likewise, "The Wolverine's" opening day box-office also surpassed "Captain America," "Iron Man," "Thor," "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," "X-Men First Class" and "X-Men: The Last Stand."

The movie's setting in Japan and Wolverine being vulnerable for the first time amplified the movie's unique tone encouraging repeat views and positive reviews across the nation. Indestructible as adamantium, "The Wolverine's" impressive performance on its first 4-day weekend opening clawed in the larger percentage of the market share at 72% over all other films that played on the same week.

"The Wolverine's" highest opening weekend box-office receipts came from SM Mall of Asia with a gross of P4.9 million. Next top grosser listed is SM Megamall with P4.5 million followed by SM North Edsa/The Block with P4.03 million while Newport (P3.8 M) and Ayala Cinema's Trinoma (P3.71 M) completed the top five grossing cinemas.

Still included within "The Wolverine's" top 20 grossing cinemas are Glorietta4 (P3.4 M); Powerplant (P2.7 M); Greenbelt3 (P2.43 M); Gateway Cineplex/Ali Mall (P2.19 M); Theatremall (P2.18 M); Alabang Town Center (P2.08 M); Eastwood (P2.02 M); SM Cebu (P1.9 M); Shang Cineplex (P1.88 M); Robinson's Galleria (P1.83 M); Robinson's Magnolia (P1.73 M); Ayala Cebu (P1.62 M); Robinson's Ermita (P1.61 M); SM Fairview (P1.34 M) and Market!Market! (P1.32 M).

Rediscovering the hero inside and on a perilous journey set in Japan amidst the maze of deceit, betrayal and honor, Logan aka Wolverine will truly come to know the price of a life without end.

"The Wolverine" is a 20th Century Fox offering still showing in cinemas nationwide in 2D and 3D format.

The Wolverine Review - Apology Accepted

Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox made a costly error when X-Men Origins: Wolverine hit the internet months (or was that weeks) before it's intended release date. Not only was it thrown off it's rocker, the story sure as hell sucked. Enter James Mangold's "THE WOLVERINE". 

*** WARNING SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW***

Mangold brings us a completely different Wolverine, a Logan we've never seen before. A man who's so lost he's OK to die and throw everything away. THE WOLVERINE is more than just your typical popcorn muncher. This one's a class act on its own. I'm going out on a limb to say that Marvel and 20th Century Fox has created something that can go the distance (not necessarily beat) The Dark Knight.

There's a lot of great action sequences here in the flick. Given that it's not flying under the X-Men banner of films also frees up Wolverine from some baggage. We don't see a lot of mutants in the film to keep it packed tightly. We don't barely see the whole "humans versus mutants" angle. In fact, the mutant element is dialed down a notch by way of introducing a new element into the story, Wolverine's healing factor isn't working.

Being a Wolverine fan, I've read a dozen or so stories which used this plot point. It's a tired old plot but Mangold and his screenplay team Christopher McQuarrie with writers Mark Bomback and Scott Frank, spun it like cotton candy. I just love it.

There's a classic saying that goes "the most dangerous men are the ones that have nothing to lose". In this case, it gets magnified by making the world's most dangerous man, a man with nothing left to lose. It's got this brilliant cathartic effect where we empathize with Logan's doom and gloom in the opening and go through this grim and gritty adventure which ultimately shows us that there really is still something worth fighting for. Great stuff.

The cast were adept with their roles. Like I said, this isn't your typical Wolverine movie so we're seeing a different kind of Hugh Jackman here. It's a Wolverine that's been given a little blood transfusion from Les Miserables' Jean Valjean. He's not emo but he's wracked with death over what he did to Jean Grey during X3 aka X-Men: The Last Stand. He's so guilt stricken that he even sees Jean (Famke Janssen) whenever he needs taunting.

Tao Okamoto is the perfect Mariko Yashida for the 21st century. The actress/ model not only looks good but also does justice to Wolverine's one-time lover. She looks and 'registers' like a princess but at the same time you know that she's an independent woman. Too bad there's only a small spark, a small ounce of chemistry between her and Jackman.



First timer Rila Fukushima is a funky, bubbly warrior named Yukio. Her character is based on an assassin and thief of the same name who also happens to be an ally of Wolverine.



The villains aren't so shabby either. We've got Mariko's crazed father Shingen Yashida, Oldman Yashida, and Viper who makes the leap from comics to the big screen. The real Silver Samurai, Kenuichio Harada is also present although some liberties were taken with the portrayal for the character. Oh and you got to love the lifting of the Logan vs Shingen fight stratight from the comic book.

The action comes in dribs and drabs here. If the plot was based on something else that would've sucked but this is a new territory for Wolverine so it's perfectly fine. Also, by the time the third act rolls in wildly, you'll have lots of action to be thankful for.

Believe it or not, there's a lot of LOL moments here in the Wolverine. It's clever and witty and doesn't dumb down the character. Oh and it's not contrived or forced either. It gives a lighter side to an already grim story. I applaud the movie for that.

The Wolverine is a superhero movie through and through but thanks to some quite thinking and reflection, it found how to balance everything in a 2 hour film.

Overall, the film has claws (pardon the pun). It's on a caliber of it's own. It's also a way for Jackman and the rest of his film team to apologize for the mess they did a few years ago. This might just be the first 'true' Wolverine movie that's not corny and sappy. Oh and this also proves to us viewers why Logan is called "The Wolverine"

Do standby for the after credits feature which leads to something even bigger. I really want to spoil it but you know what, just catch it on opening day and see for yourself.

THE WOLVERINE NOW SHOWING!

(Special thanks nga pala to 20th Century Fox)

The Wolverine in a Maze of Powerful Foes and Allies

The most iconic character in the X-Men universe embarks upon on an epic journey in modern-day Japan in “The Wolverine.” Inspired by the celebrated Marvel comic book arc, Logan (Hugh Jackman), the century-old mutant known to the world as Wolverine, is lured to a Japan he hasn’t seen since World War II – and into a shadowy realm of Yakuza and Samurai.

Director James Mangold embraced the opportunity to take Logan directly into the heart of present-day Japan, which is as full of sleek, high-tech modernity as it is rife with deep traditions and hidden codes of honor. “This story takes Logan into a kind of fever dream of today’s Japan, full of Yakuza, Ninja, Samurai, Industrialist crime, mystery and mysticism,” the director explains.

The Japanese setting allowed director Mangold and Jackman to re-imagine Logan in a fresh guise: as a Rōnin. “In feudal Japan, the Samurai belonged to a master, and a Rōnin is a Samurai who no longer has a master to serve. So, he is a kind of a warrior without a purpose, without a cause,” Mangold explains. “Many of the people who made Logan feel part of a cause are now gone. So, he’s essentially a lost man, capable of doing anything, with no mandate. That’s an iconography that American Westerns and Samurai films share and now we’re bringing a comic book character into it.”

First-time actor Rila Fukushima, plays Yukio - the fiery, sword-wielding bodyguard of Logan. A native of Tokyo, Rila Fukushima says it was Yukio’s colorful intensity that intrigued her. “What interested me were her physicality and her ruthless nature,” she muses.“I was really excited to have the chance to do such strong action sequences– but I also saw great potential for humor with her.”

Fukushima threw herself into the high spirit and trials of the role. “It was an amazing, challenging journey for me,” she says. “I trained with our terrific stunt team, learned all the physical stuff, including sword work, kick-boxing and fighting, and also did lots of weight training. I’d never done anything like this before, but it was great fun.”

Tao Okamoto plays out Mariko’s complicated love story with Logan. Okamoto was drawn to the background of her character as the daughter of a powerful industrialist who was never there for her, and has arranged a marriage for her to a man she does not love. “Mariko could never be a normal woman,” Okamoto observes. “At the start of the story, she is someone very desperate. Then she meets Logan, and she starts to realize what she wants in life, and she begins to change. That transformation was very interesting to me.”

Another powerful and complex woman is brought to life by Svetlana Khodchenkova, who takes on the green-eyed Viper, a cunning and treacherous mutant. Khodchenkova, who hails from Russia, is best known in the West for her recent breakout role in the acclaimed spy story Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, as the Soviet operative Irina.

“The Wolverine” in 3D opens July 25 in more than 200 screens nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Check out “THE WOLVERINE’S” heart-stopping action here 

Feel the Fury of THE WOLVERINE

Set in Japan and directed by James Mangold Logan aka Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman is back in the ultimate story about the adamantium-clawed hero, “The Wolverine.”

“The Wolverine,” vulnerable and alone at the start of the movie, is searching for meaning in his life. Logan travels to Tokyo where he is embroiled in a mysterious web of tangled loyalties, deceit and intrigue, fighting bloody battles against deadly adversaries in a world that is entirely foreign to him.

The most iconic character in the X-Men universe embarks upon on an epic journey in modern-day Japan, the century-old mutant known to the world as Wolverine, is lured to Japan that he hasn’t seen since World War II – and into a shadowy world of Yakuza and Samurai.

Suddenly finding himself on the run with a mysterious, beautiful heiress and confronted for the first time with the prospect of true mortality, Logan will be pushed to the physical and emotional edge – further than he’s ever been. On a perilous journey to rediscover the hero inside, Logan will be forced to grapple not only with powerful foes, mutant and human alike, but with the ghosts of his own haunted past, as well. As The Wolverine crosses his adamantium claws with Samurai swords, striking out through a maze of love, betrayal and honor, he will truly come to know the price of a life without end.

“This story takes The Wolverine into a world that is vastly different from any seen before in the X-Men series,” says Hugh Jackman, who also serves as a producer on the film. “It’s visually different and the tone is different. There are a lot of battles in this story, but the greatest battle of all is the one within Logan between being a monster and a becoming a human being.” Jackman saw in this untold part of the character’s history a rare chance to dive even deeper beneath The Wolverine’s indestructibility, and to illuminate his darkest aspects in a new way.

“One thing I find particularly interesting about Wolverine is his immortality, the fact that with his healing factor he can go on forever like a god, and because of that he also experiences the loneliness of a god. Even when Logan loses those he loves, he knows that he will keep going on,” director James Mangold observes. “He’s been going on for a century now, through wars and battles and deaths of his loved ones and he’s come to a point of great weariness. It’s a classic theme– the man who can live forever but suffers because of it. Logan is a damaged hero, and this story is very much about him looking to reclaim something he’s lost in himself.”

“Jim Mangold knows how to make a movie that is fun, has incredible action, and yet also delivers all the finer elements of character and storytelling,” says Jackman. “He pushed me to go deeper, angrier, heavier, more berserk in every way and in every take.”

From the start, Mangold wanted to break the mold of the comic book-based film. Explains the director: “What interested me about The Wolverine was doing something quite different from the standard superhero movie, where it’s about stopping a villain’s diabolical plot. In this story, the action and suspense are built more on character, and are woven into a world that makes for a completely different kind of experience, one that you haven’t seen before.”

“The Wolverine” opens in more than 200 screens nationwide on July 25 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.



Check out “The Wolverine” latest trailer HERE

International Trailer for The Wolverine Slices Nicely

Check out the new international trailer for 20th Century Fox's THE WOLVERINE starring Hugh Jackman.

View the entire trailer after the cut.

More Jean Grey and Wolverine in New The Wolverine Trailer

The new trailer for 20th Century Fox's "The Wolverine" now has a segment focusing on the tragic love story between Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman).

 
This new trailer from the film directed by James Mangold also features the same stuff from past trailers including Yukio finding Logan; Logan heading to Japan and meeting who I assume is Shingen; the fight with ninjas; Jackman getting shot plus all that. The ending is different however. 

The Wolverine Post-Credit Scene Rumors Begin

X-Men Origins: Wolverine had a weird post-credit scene but it looks like for 20th Century Fox's "The Wolverine" it's only going to be a single post-credit scene which has ties to Bryan Singer's X-Men: Days of Future Past. 

Find out what it is after the cut...

Silver Samurai Gets his Own Poster for "The Wolverine"

A new poster for 20th Century Fox's "The Wolverine" has surfaced featuring the movie's main baddie the Silver Samurai.

The Wolverine stars Hugh Jackman and directed by James Mangold. 

[Via BleedingCool]

Hugh Jackman and Thomas Jane Invites Us to FCBD 2013

It's a rare occasion that Wolverine and The Punisher gets to meet eye-to-eye, luckily for us, the upcoming Free Comic Book Day is one of those rare chances where Logan and Frank gets to co-exist peacefully; or at the very least the actors that played the two comic book heroes Hugh Jackman and Thomas Jane.

Watch the two videos after the cut...

The Wolverine Channels Yin and Yang in New Promotional Cover

Here's a look at another promotional poster for 'The Wolverine' starring Hugh Jackman and directed by James Mangold from 20th Century Fox.

I like how the cover features some duality elements here. It could mean duality between Wolverine/ James Howlett/ Logan's nature as a mutant berserker and a hero. The duality could also mean something about Wolverine's indecision about still being a mutant or stick with a more permanent solution to become 'normal' as seen in the trailer. Either way, it's a pretty cool poster. This is on top of my list of 'The Wolverine' posters out there.

Two Trailers for 20th Century Fox's "The Wolverine" Now Streaming

The first trailers for 20th Century Fox's 'The Wolverine' has finally been released and it looks magnificent. I can actually say right now that it's way better than the first Wolverine movie (X-Men Origins: Wolverine).

Synopsis: In modern day Japan, Wolverine is out of his depth in an unknown world as he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.

Check out the US trailer and the International trailer for THE WOLVERINE after the cut.

More of the Wolverine's Yukio and Viper Plus New Poster

Entertainment Weekly continues to fan anticipation over the release of 20th Century Fox's 'The Wolverine' with new photos heavily featuring Yukio and Viper plus another new poster featuring Wolverine/ Logan/ James Howlett played by Hugh Jackman.

Synopsis: Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine, the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.

New photos after the break...

New Images from The Wolverine

Three new images from the film "The Wolverine" has popped out of nowhere and they certainly look beautiful. 

Check out more photos after the cut...

When The Wolverine Goes through Artistic Portrait Shots

Collider shares some artistic portrait shots taken by James Mangold for 20th Century Fox's "The Wolverine" cast Hugh Jackman,Rila Fukushima and Tao Okamoto.

More images after the cut.

Diamond Select Toys Teases Marvel Select Wolverine 2 Figure

The Wolverine is coming out soon and Diamond Select Toys aka DST has teased us with a look at the upcoming Marvel Select "The Wolverine" action figure.

Looks pretty awesome. Cannot wait for this to be released. Also I hope that this new figure shares a more uncanny resemblance to actor Hugh Jackman who will reprise his role as Logan/ Wolverine for the James Mangold directed film "The Wolverine" from 20th Century Fox.

Hugh Jackman Goes Sophisticated with New Photo for "The Wolverine"

Here's another new photo of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/ James Howlett/ Logan for the upcoming film "The Wolverine" directed by James Mangold from 20th Century Fox.

Man, this guy can look sophisticated and stylish if he wants to, then turn into this mindless berserker at a drop of a hat. Also reminds me of this new Justin Timberlake video "Suit and Tie"...

The New International Poster for THE WOLVERINE

Hey guys check out the new international poster for "The Wolverine" from 20th Century Fox.

The film stars Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/ Logan and is directed by James Mangold.

20th Century Fox releases the brand new international poster of “The Wolverine” displaying Hugh Jackman in an arched position seemingly ready for intense action!

"Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine, the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before."

The Wolverine Gets Official Poster

Here's our very first look at the official poster for Marvel and 20th Century Fox's "The Wolverine" directed by James Mangold and stars Hugh Jackman as the lovable Wolverine/ Logan/ James Howlett.

Based on the celebrated comic book arc, “The Wolverine” is an epic action-adventure that takes Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.

“The Wolverine” opens in cinemas on JULY 25, 2013 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

THE WOLVERINE LIVE CHAT ANNOUNCEMENT

HUGH JACKMAN AND DIRECTOR JAMES MANGOLD ANSWER FAN QUESTIONS LIVE FROM THE WOLVERINE SET

Fans around the world are invited to tune-in and participate in a live chat with Hugh Jackman and director James Mangold from the set of The Wolverine in Sydney, Australia. This extraordinary event will take place on Monday, October 29th at 1:00 pm PT (Los Angeles time) / Tuesday, October 30th at 4:00am (Philippines) on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thewolverinemovie and the film’s official website at www.TheWolverineMovie.com. Marvel’s own Agent M will host and provide fans special access to this highly anticipated movie.