It’s been nearly 25 years since Hugh Jackman first graced our screens as the 200+ year old, self-healing, rabid, adamantium-boned, six-clawed, mutant known as Wolverine. Against all odds, and despite dying a dramatic, tear-jerking death in 2017’s Logan, Jackman’s Wolverine will be returning for this summer’s Deadpool & Wolverine, donning some pretty immaculate yellow tights if we may say so. But upon further inspection, one couldn’t help begs the question: is Wolverine secretly a style god?
Let’s break it down, film by film (though we have omitted a few of his Wolverine appearances, simply for his lack of screen time or varied attire).
X-Men (2000)
Apparently, Jackman was so “scrawny” (and by scrawny, we mean not as inhumanely jacked as he became for the later films) that, when shirtless, production deliberately filmed him in dim lighting so audiences wouldn’t notice his lack of vascular muscles. But with that aside, we’re first introduced to the self healing mutant known as Logan in a bar, where he spends his time drinking beer, hating everyone, and cage-fighting for money.
And his choice of attire in the vicious, Canadian winter? Brown leather jacket over a jean jacket over a trucker shirt over a white tank top with a pair of blue jeans and some cowboy-ish boots. Bottom line: Wolverine ran, so Post Malone could walk. Take note, people.
X2 (2003)
Jackman returned as the 6-clawed rage-aholic in X2, donning a relatively similar wardrobe as in the first installment, but the main fit that stuck out is when he defends the X-Mansion in, what would become, his signature look: white tank-top, blue jeans, big belt buckle, and a lot of muscles. Still, you don’t need to be Huge Jacked-Man (incredible acronym courtesy of Matthew Baxter-Priest) to pull this off. This look works with, or without, biceps.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Resurrecting the ‘indifferent yet handsome drifter’ aesthetic, the 3rd film saw the entire X-Men getting a slight upgrade on their black, leather costumes, specifically, the biker jacket top. Though worn in the first two, this one is a bit more Tyler Durden approved, and isn’t that all that matters? And Wolverine’s hair is as Wolverine-y as ever.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman first met in character 15 years ago in this unfairly lambasted origin story, which is actually pretty badass. The film begins with an updated version of the Logan aesthetic which, for anyone who’s lived in the US, is basically just the Brawny Paper Towels guy. Rolled up sleeves of your checkered worker shirt, white tank-top, blue jeans, cigar, perfect beard, and slightly longer, feathery hair. This is also the film that introduced us to Jackman as his most jacked, most angry self, erupting out of a bathtub.
The Wolverine (2013)
Wolverine goes to Japan, which, according to comic book folklore, is where he once trained as a samurai. Therefor, it’s very fitting that he’s dressed in all black to take on the Yakuza on the roof of a speeding train, or when he’s at a funeral. The all black suit gives Johnny Cash vibes, and its the first time we’ve seen Logan not dressed like a ‘roided-out truck driver. Two thumbs up.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
1970’s + Wolverine? So groovy. We’d like to think that Wolverine – who time travels back to the 1973 in order to, predictably, save the world – may have partied at Studio 54 if he wasn’t so mad all the time. At least he definitely dresses the part. The perfect mix of Starsky & Hutch, Alex Turner, producer Robert Evans, and even a splash of Tom Ford, considering the wide lapels on the retro leather jacket and the visible eyes through the wide framed shades.
Logan (2017)
Loosely based on one of the best graphic novels ever written, Old Man Logan, this 2017 masterpiece (arguably the best Marvel movie ever made) features Jackman at the end of his rope physically, mentally, and spiritually. Working as a chauffeur in a post apocalyptic ruin, Logan’s ashy gray follicles and black suit show that he’s clearly in preparation for his permanent residency in the afterlife. The black suit and white shirt is a classic combination, but the fact that it’s Wolverine wearing it somehow just makes it all the more badass. And we’re not sure anyone has ever made better use of the term Silver Fox.
Wolverine & Deadpool (2024)
In the initial comics, Wolverine is described as 5 foot 3, and drawn in yellow spandex. Naturally, that wouldn’t have looked as intimidating on screen, but as the new trailer proves for the upcoming film, somehow, they made the yellow outfit look awesome. Although the yellow jumpsuit immediately evokes an image of Bruce Lee in 1978’s Game of Death, Wolverine’s first ever comic book appearance was actually in 1974, in The Incredible Hulk #180, so one can only speculate if a certain Kung Fu master was inspired.
In 2000’s X-Men, when presented with his first costume, Cyclops asks Wolverine, “What did you expect, yellow spandex?” Actually, yes, Cyclops, that’s exactly what we expected. And now, 24 years later, we finally got them.
Wolverine & Deadpool releases in the UAE on July 25, 2024, and worldwide on July 26. And we are so pumped.
