X-23 Is The Wrong Character To Replace Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine

There are many questions about Hugh Jackman’s future as Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how long he will play the character. Jackman finally debuted in the MCU as part of Deadpool & Wolverine, but it’s unclear if he will appear again or whether or not Marvel will take the opportunity to recast the iconic X-Men character.

One option that fans have spoken about since she debuted in Logan is the character of Laura, better known as X-23. She’s the cloned daughter of Wolverine and boasts similar powers and characteristics, which is why lots of people want to see her take on that role, but at this stage, she feels like the wrong choice.

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Why Do Fans Want X-23 To Become Wolverine?

Logan was a successful movie, and a big part of that was the work of Dafne Keen, who was Laura. She brought an incredible performance for such a young actress, wowing fans while helping to bring out a new side of Jackman as Wolverine. Her work got everyone talking due to how captivating the performance was, and the fact that she managed to captivate Wolverine’s angry personality made her stand out. She instantly felt like the idea to take on the role moving forward, especially since she has such similar powers due to them being father and daughter. That family connection would have been an interesting storyline for Marvel to work with, which might have been interesting. However, she’s not the only option for Marvel’s hierarchy, as other actors could take on the Wolverine role if Jackman ends up stepping down.

Her Deadpool & Wolverine Appearance Hurt Her Chances

Marvel brought X-23 back to be part of Deadpool & Wolverine, which was one of many brilliant cameos throughout the movie. Audiences loved seeing her back and making her debut in the MCU via the multiverse. However, that appearance made it almost impossible for her to end up taking on the role of Wolverine if Jackman steps down. She was presented within a team alongside other characters, and that made X-23 feel like she was on a lower level than the titular characters. While that was done on purpose because the film is all about Wolverine and Deadpool, if Marvel wants X-23 to play a more significant role in the future, then this wasn’t the right way to go about that.

Those who haven’t seen Logan before were instantly made to believe that X-23 isn’t that important of a character. The attention went more toward Gambit and Blade than her, and that was a mistake in making X-23 seem like a huge deal. Her backstory and the history with Wolverine weren’t shown in the same level of detail people wanted; overall, her character wasn’t presented on that level. It was a fun cameo that made people who had seen Logan smile, but beyond that, there wasn’t the right level of emphasis to make her seem like she could take Jackon’s place. If she is to return to the MCU, people would automatically expect her to be in a smaller role.

Marvel Would Be Best Totally Recasting Wolverine

Wolverine is a character that Marvel Studios will always want to use now that he has been part of the franchise because he’s one of the most beloved and interesting people available. Replacing Jackman isn’t going to be easy due to how synonymous he is with this role and what an excellent job he has done over the years. There has been speculation that he will continue doing it for much longer, but Marvel is reaching the point where he could be recast.

X-Men will be arriving in the MCU soon, with the explosion of mutants into the franchise expected to take place post-Avengers: Secret Wars. That will lead to a brand new version of the X-Men, which is different from what has been seen before in the Fox movies, and that’s why it would be the ideal time for Jackman to be replaced. It would also be best if X-23 doesn’t do that, but instead, Marvel brings in a totally new actor to go along with the fresh approach that will be taking place with the other characters.

Marvel is likely set to hire fresh actors for all of the classic X-Men roles, and they will be of a similar, younger age. Therefore, having an older actor in Jackman could stand out negatively. While X-23 would bring an element of youth, she still has connections to Jackman, which would lead to people wanting him to return eventually. Instead, this marks an opportunity for a total reset, which is something that X-23 doesn’t fit into. It’s time for the MCU to move forward, and coming out of the upcoming Avengers movies and the expected end of the multiverse, there’s a perfect opportunity for change.

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