The first X-Men film was among the first successful superhero films that spawned a franchise. The film grossed $296,300,000 at the box office in 2000. The X-Men weren’t as popular as Spiderman. Yet it showed that audiences were willing to watch well-made superhero films. The film’s success spawned several sequels and spinoffs. People particularly liked the portrayal of Wolverine by Hugh Jackman, and he starred in solo Wolverine films.

Eventually, the solo Wolverine films surpassed the X-Men films in audience response and critical acclaim. However, in 2000, Hugh Jackman didn’t have the ripped physique he built for later films. In fact, he only gave himself three weeks to get in shape which resulted in disaster.

Hugh Jackman needed more time to get into shape

Recently, fitness YouTuber Paris Demers uploaded a video explaining why the Australian actor delayed filming. Demers said the actor wasn’t a bodybuilding enthusiast before he signed up to play Wolverine. Despite working at a gym at one point,?“he never lifted a weight in his life,”?said the YouTuber. Instead, the actor got?“made fun of by all the guys in the weight room.”

When Jackman signed up for Wolverine, he knew he had to put on muscle. In the comics, Wolverine is a mutant with an instant healing factor, an indestructible adamantium skeleton, and a ripped physique. However, three weeks of training wasn’t enough to get the Australian anywhere near looking like a superhero.?“The director sent him right back to the gym,”?said Demers.

The fitness YouTuber said Jackman caused a delay, but the director found an ingenious way to get around it. Instead of shooting the shirtless scenes in order, Bryan Singer chose to film every other scene featuring Hugh Jackman to give him enough time to put on more muscle. Not only did Jackman’s physique improve, he took it to the next level for the following films.

Nearly risking his life to look shredded

Despite not being in shape at the start of the first X-Men film, Hugh Jackman built an insane physique to continue playing Wolverine. However, it wasn’t until X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) was released that Jackman showed just how far he was willing to go to look like a superhero. In the film, Jackman is shredded and muscular at the same time.

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He continued to be in great shape until his last appearance as Wolverine in 2017. In an interview with Graham Norton, the 54-year-old confessed to pushing his body to the limit to look jacked yet shredded. Jackman said he dehydrated his body to achieve paper-thin skin and looked shredded for the camera multiple times.

What did you think of Jackman’s physical evolution to play Wolverine? Are you excited to watch him reprise the role in the upcoming Deadpool 3?

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