It looks like Hugh Jackman will be growin’ back the mutton chops and will be rockin’ the Adamantium claws for another go ’round as Wolverine. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that a sequel to this year’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine is going to be made with Jackman acting as movie producer as well as lead star. The as-yet-untitled sequel film will be set in Japan and, one hopes, will be much better than the movie we saw earlier this year:

Christopher McQuarrie has signed on to write the script for Fox’s sequel to its “Wolverine” movie. Hugh Jackman is set to return as the Marvel Comics character, a mutant with healing powers and a skeleton laced with the indestructible metal known as adamantium. Jackman is also producing via his Fox-based Seed shingle along with Lauren Shuler Donner. The movie’s story line will take its cue from the early 1980s Chris Claremont/Frank Miller miniseries, which is set in Japan and features Wolverine dealing with ninjas as he struggles whether to follow his animal killer instincts or the life under a samurai’s code of honor and respect. The story line was hinted at in one of the movie’s codas after the credits. (The other teased a spinoff based on Deadpool, the character played by Ryan Reynolds.) The studio put a sequel in development after the movie, titled “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” carved up almost $180 million at the domestic boxoffice and $363 million worldwide. McQuarrie is not unfamiliar with the character. The scribe, who won an Oscar for writing “The Usual Suspects” for Bryan Singer, reteamed with the director to write 2000’s “X-Men.” Though McQuarrie could have received a credit, he voluntarily took his name off the movie when the final version was more in line with David Hayter’s script than his.

Thank Lord Jebus above … securing the guy who wrote the amazing film The Usual Suspects is quite a boon for a movie like this. That film was excellent, so chances are Wolverine 2 will be pretty good … or, at the very least, better than the movie that was released this year. I love Hugh Jackman as Wolverine … even if all the movies suck, he is still deffo worth seeing in theaters ;)

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David and I finally got to spend some time with Darion last night after going a couple of weeks without any of us getting to hang out. Because of our travel schedule and Darion’s travel schedule, we just couldn’t get it together … but last night we finally met up for dinner a movie. We also finally got to check out Darion’s new apartment which is prett swank. It’s great having him live so much closer. Because he lives Beverly Hills adjacent, we decided to grab dinner at Chin Chin before making our way to the ArcLight (best theater ever) to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine:

The good news is that Wolverine is much better than X-Men 3: The Last Stand but, unfortch, it is not as good as X-Men and X2: X-Men United. The problem with origin story movies is that you have a whole lotta information that you need to pack into a ridiculously short amount of time … that way you can get thru the history and still have time to tell the story at hand. Wolverine’s entire family history is told in the opening credits which leaves all the rest of the time to flesh out how he came to be the adamantium X-Men superhero. Overall, the movie is entertaining but there are a lot of plot holes and inconsistencies that really keep the film from being spectacular. I was also less than impressed with some of the CGI special effects … tho the motorcycle scene with the helicopter was pretty damn cool. I think Wolverine fits in nicely with the canon of X-Men movies that have been released but I kinda wish there was more character development involved. Each of the X-Men (both good and evil) is such a complex and rich character worthy of their own movie … Wolverine doesn’t focus enough on developing his character and instead shoves in a bunch of extraneous characters that are also not developed and, oftentimes, cast aside way too soon. But, again, when you only have a 2-hour PG-13 movie to work with … you are extremely limited. The movie is fun and deffo worth watching … but by the end of the film you’re kinda left wanting more. By that I don’t mean more as in wanting another film, I mean more as in I wish the movie I just watched delivered, well, more. We had fun tho, I guess that is all that matters (tho, it should be confessed, David slept thru 80% of the movie). I’m glad I saw it but I don’t think I need to watch it again.

I believe the plan for tonight is to make our way out to Dodger Stadium to take in a baseball game. We’ve been talking about seeing a game for some time … methinks tonight will be the night.

Tempe, AZ became “Hollywood central” last night as the city played host to the US premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Hugh Jackman challenged all US cities to prove that they are deserving of hosting the premiere and Tempe narrowly beat out Davis, CA for the win. Hugh was joined by his Wolverine costars Liev Schreiber (Sabretooth), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), will.i.am (John Wraith), Taylor Kitsch (Gambit) and more at last night’s premiere at Harkins Theatres in the Tempe Marketplace … here are a few photos:

Wolverine is a rage-fueled, cranky mutant who prefers to work alone; Hugh Jackman couldn’t possibly be more the opposite. On Monday, however, both could be found in Arizona riding a motorcycle into an action-packed “X-Men” moment. “I’ve played this character for about nine years; I love the character,” said Jackman, who arrived to the “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” world premiere with great fanfare while riding a motorcycle into action, just like his claw-bearing mutant does in the flick. “[I] wanted to show the movie first to the most passionate X-Men and Wolverine fans, so we put a competition out online, and Tempe, Arizona, won. And I’ll tell you: These guys are passionate — they slept out two nights in a row [to get tickets]. Isn’t it the coolest thing?” To celebrate this weekend’s opening of “Origins,” Jackman devised a contest that had cities all across America creating Web sites and posting videos on YouTube. Tempe narrowly defeated Davis, California, and the festivities swept into a massive local shopping mall. A marching band kicked off the confetti-heavy event, the jovial mayor handed Jackman a placard that gave him lifetime parking privileges anywhere in the city, and a gaggle of giggling high school cheerleaders swarmed Ryan Reynolds for a photo. “This thing outranks every single friggin’ Hollywood or New York premiere they’ve ever had,” grinned Reynolds, moments before one of the cheerleaders could be heard bragging to her friends “I touched his butt!” “It’s a nice crowd. You jump into the crowds in L.A. and New York, and you’re liable to come out without a cell phone or a wallet. But here, they’re very sweet, they’re very kind … these people are amped.” While random celebrities such as Alice Cooper, Matt Leinart and recently ousted “American Idol” contestant Scott MacIntyre walked the lengthy red carpet, the film’s stars addressed concerns about enemies that had posed a last-minute threat to Wolverine’s spinoff film: The just-breaking news that the swine flu had canceled its Mexico City premiere and the much-publicized piracy of the flick. “This is a summer, go-to-the-movies joint,” explained Will.I.Am, who plays teleporting mutant John Wraith in the comic book flick. “The cats that saw it on the Internet know that’s not the way to see it. You need to sit in a big theater, get wrapped in the whole world, with the right sound, the right effects and the right environment. I don’t think the [leak to the] Internet is going to play a big role on how it performs.” Judging by the enthusiasm of the fans at the Tempe world premiere, Wolverine will slice through his new enemies just as easily as he has so many evil mutants over the years — and if the movie is a hit, Jackman promised there will be more Wolverine to come. “I’d like to do it; I love the character,” the actor said of possible sequels. “I think a lot will depend on what happens this weekend. We’ll see if people want to see the story.”

It sounds like Tempe, AZ made all of the celebs feel very welcome … congrats to them for winning the right to host the premiere. I think it would be really cool if other movie premieres took place in cities like this all around the country. I’m sure there are many fans all around the country that would jump at the chance to attend a big movie premiere like this. Why should NYC and LA get all the fun? I think everyone should have to right to enjoy some celeb lurve up close.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

Hugh Jackman, who is currently in London, England to promote his new film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, stopped by the offices of The Sun newspaper to rappel off the building in a promo event to raise funds for the Help Our Heroes organization which lends aid to wounded troops. Here are a few photos of Hugh being a daredevil for a good cause:

X-MEN star Hugh Jackman joined Sun staff today for a daredevil abseil to raise cash for Help For Heroes. In a new nationwide ad campaign, the forces’ favourite paper challenged the nation “What will you do?” for our wounded troops. So it was only right that we did our bit to fundraise for the crucial forces charity too. More than 200 Sun staff made the 100ft plunge from the roof of our HQ in Wapping, East London, aided by a team of Royal Marines. And the 40-year-old Hollywood heartthrob – in London to promote his new blockbuster X-Men Origins: Wolverine – was happy to take his place beside us. The rain-soaked bid raised £25,000 for the wounded troops’ charity. Aussie-born Hugh’s arrival had female Sun staff at knives with each other as they jostled for pictures with the star – named Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine last year … Our abseil was one of more than 600 fundraising events registered so far since the campaign was launched two weeks ago. Backed by The Sun, Help For Heroes want to raise £20million to build a network of seven recovery centres where war-battered troops can rehabilitate, retrain and get their lives back. Abseil organiser Jim Holgate, Sun associate night editor, said: “Sun staff and our colleagues at News International wanted to show Our Boys and Girls across all the Forces that we are are fully behind them. “Help for Heroes is such a worthy cause. And who better to help us stage the event than the Navy’s Royal Marines? “It was a brilliant team effort on all sides.”

As you may recall, Hugh dropped out of a helicopter in Sydney, Australia earlier this month to promote his new film there. At least this time around, Hugh factored in a way to pull off a publicity stunt, promote his film AND help serve a good cause all at the same time. Can the man do no wrong?

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Aussie hottie Hugh Jackman has made his way to Moscow, Russia to make an appearance at a press conference before making his way to the premiere of his new film X-Men Origins: Wolverine this week … here are a few photos of Hugh (rockin’ a smart-lookin’ new hair’do) at his Russian press conference earlier today:

When last we saw Hugh, he was jumpin’ his ass out of a helicopter in Sydney, Australia for a Wolverine premiere screening there and since he’s been making his way around Europe on his movie promo tour. Since his movie was leaked to the Internets a full month before it is due to open in theaters, I’m sure Hugh is workin’ overtime to make sure that as many folks as possible come out to see the film in theaters. From what I’ve heard and read from folks who couldn’t resist and watched the leaked film online, I doubt that the movie’s opening weekend box office will suffer much from the film’s leaking. After all, there are a few scenes in the film where Hugh Jackman bears more than his soul in the flick … interested movie goers who’d like to see his nekkid bum on the big screen are gonna make their way to the theaters — trust me. I know I’ll be there!! Wherever will Hugh Jackman pop up next on his Wolverine promo tour? Stay tuned …

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Aussie hottie Hugh Jackman made his way down under to his homeland in order to begin the promo blitz for his new film X-Men Origins: Wolverine which is set to hit theaters next month. As you may recall, an unfinished workprint of the film was leaked to the Internets last week — one full month before its release in cinemas — which seriously threatens to hurt the film at the box office. Possibly to combat the damage done by that leak, Jackman participated in a dynamic promo event at Cockatoo Island in Sydney yesterday in order to drop in and treat the fans with a visit and to begin the promo machine for the film … behold:

Hugh Jackman proved he as much a daredevil as the characters he portays as he made a spectacular stunt entrance leaning out of a helicopter. The Australian star then swept to the ground on a zipwire and was mobbed by fans as he launched a world promotional tour of his new film. He stars in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which focuses on the beginnings of Hugh’s clawed superhero, taken from the iconic Marvel comics. He landed on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, Australia, one of the key locations for the shooting of the movie. But his grand stunt was marred after a work print of the film was leaked online. “It’s a serious crime and there’s no doubt it’s very disappointing – I was heartbroken by it,” Hugh said. “Obviously people are seeing an unfinished film. It’s like a Ferrari without a paint job.” Hugh, 40, faced further trials several days ago after he wrote on his Twitter page: ‘Having lunch on the harbor across from the Opera Center. Loving life!’ His fellow countrymen were outraged he had called it the Opera Center instead of Opera House, and had used American spellings of harbour and centre. A spokesman told the Australian newspaper the Sydney Morning Herald it had been caused by a spelling error on his Blackberry. But hours later, Jackman told the paper he had dictated the message over the phone to a staff member. “I communicated it over the phone and when that got translated by someone American in my office it came out all wrong. ‘I do know the Opera House is called the Opera House – I think I had my high school leaving assembly at the Opera House when I was 18 so I should know that one.” And shortly afterwards, a new tweet appeared on his Twitter page: ‘Jumped from chopper, arrived to work via flying fox and apoligised [sic] to AUS media for Opera House slip up….’ But more than 600 fans were undeterred by the calamity and turned up to watch him arrive and see a sneak 20 minutes of the completed footage.

While this promo event looks and sounds pretty spectacular, I think there are other ways to ensure that the audience will flock to theaters to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine. As a result of the film’s leak to the Internets, screencaps of all varieties from the film have been made available online … including photos of Hugh Jackman’s nekkid scene in the flick. I contend that all Hugh has to do is promote that bit of the film and VOILA! sold out theaters the world over. See, I’m just trying to help offset any possible damage done by the workprint leak. It remains to be seen if Hugh or any of the other X-Men Origins: Wolverine cast will be participating in promo events this exciting in the weeks leading up to the film’s release but I can’t wait to find out. Wouldn’t you love to have Hugh Jackman drop in on you?

OH and, in case you’re interested, you can click HERE to follow Hugh Jackman on Twitter :)

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Earlier today we learned that the US Federal Bureau of Investigations has launched an investigation into the leaking of the new film X-Men Origins: Wolverine to the Internets a couple of days ago … but I’m happy to report that some good has come from the film’s leakage. It turns out that Hugh Jackman has a nude scene in the film where he briefly bares his buns on camera:

I mean, forget paying for movie trailers, forget paying for advertising … you just tell people that Hugh Jackman is nekkid in the film and I guarantee the film will have much success at the box office. After the jump, check out the uncensored NSFW versions of these screencaps from X-Men Origins: Wolverine …

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