Why Hugh Jackman was Nearly Rejected as Wolverine: Kevin Feige Spills

Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige initially rejected Hugh Jackman for the role of Wolverine because he was considered ‘too tall

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[{"selector":"#anim-f8754c3d-52aa-433b-ad20-7a287373df97","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77e87a1c-b2a8-4e50-93e9-535ab3a904b3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 196.51263%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] He was brought back into consideration after Scottish actor Dougray Scott withdrew at the eleventh hour, as confirmed by Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige.

[{"selector":"#anim-a0989793-ff98-45d6-a067-bcba20b5ee4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afe90a8a-fbd8-4fa5-846a-c702ef6d5ac7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 196.51263%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] He was brought back into consideration after Scottish actor Dougray Scott withdrew at the eleventh hour, as confirmed by Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige.

[{"selector":"#anim-247d2908-ef3a-46e4-9446-7787ab6aed06","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51eaf58b-6b7c-47d0-8336-5c85257f51cb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.32214%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Initially set to play the clawed superhero in the 20th Century Fox mutant franchise, Scott, Jackman flew to Toronto to audition for the lead role of Wolverine after Scott dropped out.

[{"selector":"#anim-2d3211f2-12b4-47c6-9469-436e7e5d49ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ddcd41b-254b-4308-b006-ea437e016ccc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.32214%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tom Cruise objected to Scott playing both the villain in "Mission: Impossible 2" and Wolverine. Scott withdrew, prompting the team to reintroduce the Australian actor for the role.

[{"selector":"#anim-77d8b809-cce8-48aa-ae08-d05e9e3d1360","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-680ae5dc-61fe-4fa5-aa52-42b0d0bc2393","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 196.51263%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] In an Entertainment Weekly interview, Feige, then assistant to producer Lauren Shuler Donner, revealed the behind-the-scenes process leading to Jackman's casting as Wolverine.