With the announcement that Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine in the upcoming film Deadpool 3, the return of the character opens the door for a wealth of new storytelling opportunities. Drawing from Logan's rich comic history, there are a ton of exciting storylines that could breathe new life into the character on the big screen.
From rebooted origin stories like All-New Wolverine to surprising spin-offs like Wolverine: Patch, the razor-clawed mutant has enough comic book history to fill an entire cinematic universe for years. Though Wolverine's comic stories are almost always great, only the very best could make the transition to film.
Return Of The Native (2004)
One consistent about Wolverine is that his past almost always comes back to haunt him in new and extravagant ways, and in the underrated storyline "Return of the Native" the same was true. The Native is a mysterious mutant from Wolverine's past who returns, and they reignite their former passion. However, The Native also draws the attention of Sabretooth who wants to experiment on her.
The story is rather simplistic and would definitely need a bit more meat to make it to the big screen, but the character work is where it shines brightest. If it was introduced into the MCU, fans would get a chance to meet Sabretooth in that context, and the "Return of the Native" storyline is a great introduction to Wolverine's notorious nemesis.
All-New Wolverine (2015-2018)
Though Logan is the name that most comes to mind when the character of Wolverine is discussed, he isn't the only person to don the yellow and blue spandex. The All-New Wolverine series formally introduced Logan's clone Laura Kinney as Marvel's premiere clawed mutant, and she established herself as one of the most powerful versions of the character over her three-year run.
While it is nice to have Hugh Jackman back for one last go, it is obvious that he can't play the character forever. This presents the creators at the MCU with an opportunity to introduce Kinney as their Wolverine and have a completely clean slate to work with. The All-New comic series had a wealth of great stories to pull from, and the fresh take on Wolverine could spark fan interest.
Incredible Hulk #180-181 (1974)
While Wolverine made his name in the X-Men comics, he is one of the best characters to make his debut in The Incredible Hulk, appearing shortly before he joined Xavier's team. Starting off his time in the comics as a villain, Wolverine's first appearance left a strong impression on readers as he battled the emerald monster in the woods of his native Canada.
With Hulk conspicuously absent from the MCU in his own movies, a future adventure for the mean green smashing machine could involve Wolverine. Considering the fact that the Sony movies aren't really tied to the MCU's timeline, a formal introduction of the Wolverine character could actually come in a Hulk film, and thoroughly thrill audiences as the two duked it out.
Get Mystique (2008)
Wolverine's relationship with Mystique is complicated at best, and the comics have always done an excellent job of hinting at a past that isn't quite clear. The storyline "Get Mystique" put their relationship in focus and followed Wolvie as he treks across the globe to apprehend his former lover.
Mystique makes for such a dynamic character that a movie with her as the main antagonist could be cinematic gold if done correctly. It would require the writers to pull from other sources as well, but a character-driven story about Wolverine and Mystique could be an ambitious turn for the creators at Marvel Studios and show a maturity that most superhero flicks don't have.
The Death Of Wolverine (2014)
Wolverine has died so many times in Marvel Comics that most readers were skeptical when "The Death of Wolverine" storyline first hit shelves in 2014. Suddenly losing his trademark healing factor, Wolverine becomes the target of assassins who hope to take advantage of a weakened Logan to finally finish him off for good.
Movie fans already got a pretty fitting send-off to the character in Logan, but the comic series would nevertheless be gripping cinema. Presenting a heaping helping of action to go along with the heartbreaking drama, "The Death of Wolverine" is a surprisingly classy story that seemed to wipe out the character for good before he did eventually return.
Wolverine: Patch (2022)
Even though he isn't known for his subtlety, Wolverine has his own alter-ego in the form of the eye patch-sporting Madripoor businessman Patch. The newest series Wolverine: Patch focused exclusively on the character and saw the Wolverine in disguise take on shady corporations in the jungle.
Even if the film didn't necessarily utilize the comic as direct inspiration, a movie featuring Patch would be a great change of pace for a character that has been in movies for over two decades at this point. With Jackman in the role again, the veteran actor could get a chance to do a bit more character work as he would be tasked with bringing Wolvie's alter-ego to life.
Enemy Of The State (2005)
Because he is such a lone wolf, it is difficult to integrate a character like Wolverine into a larger universe like the MCU. The "Enemy of the State" storyline would be an easy way to rectify that problem as it follows a reprogrammed Wolverine who is turned against his allies as a deadly weapon by Hydra.
The arc helped reestablish him as a force to be reckoned with, and it was abundantly clear that Wolverine is dangerous whether he is good or bad. In a film context, it could give MCU fans a chance to settle a lot of "what if?" debates as Wolverine goes toe-to-toe with the likes of The Fantastic Four and his long-time allies in the X-Men.
The Brotherhood (2004)
The Wolverine standalone series in the early-'00s produced some of the character's best comic book storylines, and "The Brotherhood" is one of the strongest of all. While trying to settle down from his life of crime-fighting, Logan finds himself on the trail of a mysterious organization after one of his young neighbors turns up dead at their hands.
Leaving his over-the-top Wolverine persona behind, the storyline is a character-driven mystery that puts Logan at the forefront of the narrative. Low-key and understated, the story would really help to flesh out Logan as a character on screen, and it could be a simple alternative to Marvel's increasingly high-stakes films. As good as Wolverine is at hacking his way through bad guys, he proves himself in the storyline to be just as astute as a detective.
Weapon X (1991)
Before the publication of the groundbreaking "Weapon X" storyline, Wolverine's origins were a constant source of speculation and mystery. Casting the mutant as a horrific and brutal killing machine, "Weapon X" followed the scientists responsible for Wolvie's adamantium skeleton.
Told in a style that more closely resembled a slasher film than a typical comic book, "Weapon X" established Logan's dark backstory and made him one of Marvel's most dynamic characters. If the creators at the MCU were looking for a great way to introduce the character into their universe, starting at "Weapon X" could get Wolverine off on the right foot.
Berserker (2016)
Logan was a brilliant send-off for the character and pulled from the popular Old Man Logan series to put a cap on Jackman's run with the claws. "Berserker" was another storyline featuring the elderly Logan as he is sent back in time where he attempts to stop the events that turned the future into the wasteland he knows.
With Hugh Jackman willing to return to the role, an adaptation of "Berserker" could extend his lifespan as Wolverine while staying true to the fact that Jackman is aging. Recent MCU movies introduced the idea of the multiverse, and Jackman's Wolverine could enter the film series without excluding them from recasting the role or rebooting the character in the future.