‘Wolverine 3’: ‘Narcos’ Star Boyd Holbrook In Talks For Villain Role
Hugh Jackman’s time as everyone’s favorite cranky Canadian mutant will come to an end next year withWolverine 3, and after nearly two decades he and the character deserve to go out with a bang. Which means that they’re gonna need a worthy villain to go up against. And as of right now,NarcosactorBoyd Holbrookhas entered talks to be the poor evil fool who’ll probably get shish kebab-ed on those adamantium claws. More on the newWolverine 3villain below.Deadlinebroke the news of theWolverine 3villain. Holbrook will be the lead villain in the film, described as “a relentless, calculating and intense head of Security for a global enterprise.“TheWrapadds that he’s an original character, as opposed to someone from the comics.
Also starring in the film will bePatrick Stewart, whoreprises his rolefrom the earlierX-Menfilms as Charles Xavier a.k.a. Professor X.Liev Schreiber, who played Sabretooth inX-Men Origins: Wolverinehas additionallyhinted at a possible return, but has not officially been confirmed to appear.James Mangold, who directed 2013’sThe Wolverine, returns to direct the character’s third and final solo film.David James Kellywrote the script.
Holbrook stars in Netflix’sNarcosas DEA agent Steve Murphy, and has also had roles in History’sHatfields & McCoysand Showtime’sThe Big C. On the movie side, he’s had roles inGone Girl,The Skeleton Twins, andJane Got a Gun, and will soon be seen inThe Free Worldand Terrence Malick’sWeightless(provided he didn’t get cut, as tends to happen to actors in Malick movies).
Wolverine 3, which will get a title change before hitting theaters, will be based onMark MillarandSteve McNiven’s “Old Man Logan” arc from the comics. The original story unfolds in a dystopian future ruled by supervillains. The former Wolverine has long since retired to a quiet life his family, but gets sucked back into superhero drama when he agrees to help an old friend deliver a package.
As published, the story features a number of Marvel characters that 20th Century Fox (who puts out theX-Menfilms, including theWolverinespinoffs) does not have the rights to. But as Millar haspointed out, it’s possible to do a version of the story with different characters that Fox can actually use. Indeed, swapping out the Avengers characters and bringing in X-Men ones could be a nice way to close the book on Wolverine, his place in the X-Men universe, and his relationships with the other characters that populate it.
It’s a pretty dark storyline, and as suchWolverine 3isexpected to be rated R. Fox has insisted the decision wasn’t a reaction toDeadpool’s box office success, but we’re guessing that didn’t hurt.Wolverine 3shoots in May for release onMarch 3, 2017.
