Hugh Jackman is returning to the role of Wolverine for Deadpool 3 and fans are already eagerly anticipating what else he might bring to the role. He wasn't anyone's first choice to portray Logan on screen but has established himself as the only man for the job by reflecting the comics well, with his own twist.
While he's also unique in comparison to what's on the page, there are plenty of examples of the actor actually mimicking the characteristics and mannerisms of Wolverine from the traditional Marvel Universe. Hopefully, there is more of that to see in his next outing.
Brooding
Wolverine has been known for his brooding. It's easy to find plenty of comic book panels that see him silently staring, usually from a shadowy corner looking on at events. He's a man of few words and is often happier to allow his actions to do the talking.
Even in group settings, such as when the team gets in the Blackbird together, Wolverine is often sat very stoically, thinking on the events ahead. Hugh Jackman manages to brood in a way few actors can, displaying a wide range of emotions despite having no lines to deliver.
The Growling Speech
While the way Wolverine speaks isn't a mannerism and is actually a character speech choice, the face the character makes when he delivers lines is actually a really easy-to-recognize movement. The character is known to have a very tight jaw when he talks.
He'll often growl when he delivers lines, with this being through gritted teeth in the comics. Hugh Jackman has created a voice that works well with what fans expect from the character, usually talking through his own teeth too, to bring the same image. Other Wolverine actors will have to replicate this in the role since it's so iconic.
The Scream
The scream is another verbal cue that many will recognize from the big screen that has been created in print on the comic book page. While the sound has very much been defined by Hugh Jackman, it was the comics that set out the rage in his face when he yells.
He will often draw his claws back as well and widen his face, allowing for that rage to really come across to everyone. Hugh Jackman has managed to really capture that image perfectly, and all the best versions of Wolverine will have to have a great yell to hand.
Bringing Out The Claws
There is a very specific motion for how the claws come out of Wolverine. It's not an easy process and Wolverine has shown great pain with how they slide out of his skin. It's common to see him clench his teeth and his fists as the metallic structure reveals itself.
That's very visceral on the page and obviously, it's helped on the screen by the addition of the CGI claws actually moving beneath Hugh Jackman's skin, before they break through. It's quite a disturbing moment and his body language sells it perfectly.
The Leap
The fastball special is a team-up move that Wolverine has mastered with larger characters like The Thing. It's when Logan is thrown, as hard as possible, across the battlefield with his claws drawn out. It's a dangerous move for the enemy as it's difficult to defend against.
This happens very often in the comics and the movies have found their own variation of it. Hugh Jackman's version of the character has been seen to leap across the screen, with his claws drawn, mimicking the exact same mannerisms as is on the page.
Leading The Team
Whenever the team lines up, it's often pivoted around Wolverine. He stands tall and strikingly, as a bastion of strength. Logan is almost like the shield at the front of the group, considering he can take the fire without being killed in combat. It's a selfless move that shows real leadership.
When Hugh Jackman's Wolverine lines up in a team, he too places himself at the front of the group, ready to face any bullets or powers that could become significant risks. While he isn't necessarily the leader of the X-Men he certainly takes a key position, despite the terrible things that have happened to him as he puts his life on the line.
The Swearing
Wolverine is known to swear in the comics, although the character's speech is held back in the traditional manner that swearing is portrayed in the medium. He has also been known to physically swear, using his body language to indicate his sarcasm and general brooding.
Plenty of scenes throughout the Wolverine movies have seen Hugh Jackman use his body language to back up his swearing, or has even used his claw comically to give someone a piece of his mind. These mannerisms and how the lines are delivered certainly line up with the imagery on the page.
The Sympathetic Glance
Because Logan is very stoic and silent his emotion usually reads in the art. He has a very special relationship with specific characters, such as the fatherly bond that he has with Rogue or indeed his clone, X-23. When he looks at them, he conveys everything he wants to say.
It's this sympathetic glance that feels hard to replicate on screen, but Hugh Jackman's brilliant performance allowed this mannerism to come to life, often not bothering to say much when looking to Rogue for instance, but allowing his eyes to do the talking instead.
The Drinking
Logan is known to like a good drink. He nurses a beer or a whiskey often in the comics, usually holding on to the bottle in a very specific way, as if someone is about to take it away from him. It's common to see him slouched back, a bottle in hand.
The big screen portrayal of Logan has replicated this in full, with panels from the comics easily matched to various scenes that see Hugh Jackman in a surprisingly similar stance. As fans question his role in Deadpool 3, it's likely that at some stage he'll have to have a drink to deal with the events.
The Weapon X Stance
Fans of the comics know that there is a very distinct action that has been portrayed time and time again, when Wolverine emerges as Weapon X. He usually has his arms back ready to strike, claws drawn out, a rage-filled look on his face, and a crouched stance.
Every time Weapon X has been portrayed in cinema, Hugh Jackman has tried his best to re-enact that imagery, considering it's one of the most iconic stances that the character takes. It represents the pain, anger, and uncertainty about the process that just happened.