The Wolverine: Rebirth

The Wolverine: Rebirth
Based on	Wolverine by Fabian Nicieza Rob Liefeld
Produced by	Freddie Goodwin James Mangold
Starring	Hugh Jackman
Production company	Mob Productions
Distributed by	Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Country	United States
Language	English

The Wolverine: Rebirth is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Wolverine. Produced by Mob Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the sequel to The Wolverine (2013) and a prequel to Logan (2017), and an installment in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The film was confirmed to be in development in July 2014 without a director or any writers attached to develop the film. Freddie Goodwin announced he is being very picky in choosing a director and writer for this film and confirmed that the film would be set within the universe that 20th Century Fox created back in the early 2000s. Jackman departed the project in December 2017.

The Wolverine: Rebirth is scheduled to be released in the United States.

Cast

• James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine: A mutant with retractable claws.

Production

Development

Initial announcement

The film was officially announced to be in development in July 2014, although no director or writers were initially attached. Freddie Goodwin stated that he was taking a deliberate and selective approach in choosing the creative team, emphasizing the importance of finding the right director and writer to align with his vision. He also confirmed that the film would take place within the universe established by 20th Century Fox in the early 2000s, maintaining ties to its iconic timeline. In a November 2015 interview, Goodwin teased that the film’s tone and style would draw inspiration from Deadpool (2016) while being set in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, he clarified that most of the events depicted would originate from the original Fox universe, preserving its legacy while bridging the gap with newer storytelling. Around this time, Hugh Jackman announced his return as Wolverine for at least three films within the MCU, though he did not specify which projects he would appear in.

Production formally began in 2016, with the film receiving an initial green light and a tentative 2024 release date. However, it was soon removed from all release schedules. Goodwin reportedly considered Peyton Reed to direct the project, inspired by Reed’s previous work, but Reed declined the offer. By March 2016, it was confirmed that the film would prominently feature multiple mutants, serving as a gateway to introduce more characters into the MCU. Goodwin later revealed that this film would be the "final 'big' installment of the newer films," setting the stage for Avengers to appear in the narrative. In May 2016, James Mangold was approached to direct but declined, opting instead to join the project as a producer alongside Goodwin. Mangold’s involvement added significant credibility to the film, with both producers promising a project that would honor the legacy of the original timeline while expanding the MCU’s possibilities.

Rework and Jackman's departure

In November 2017, it was reported that the film was facing significant challenges in development due to extensive script rewrites, occurring more than twice a week, in an effort to maintain a standard that would not "ruin the Logan experience." Rumors circulated that Freddie Goodwin himself might step into the director’s chair if a suitable candidate was not found. By the end of the month, Goodwin confirmed that the film would explore a completely different aspect of Wolverine, distancing itself from Logan (2017). He announced that the project was no longer envisioned as a sequel to The Wolverine (2013) or a prequel to Logan, marking a significant shift in its narrative direction.

In December 2017, news broke that Hugh Jackman had officially departed from the project, a development Goodwin described as "sadly very true." While the studio expressed its disappointment, they respected Jackman’s decision to step away from the character. Following his departure, Mob Productions began the search for a new actor to portray Wolverine, aiming to cast a much younger performer to offer a fresh take on the iconic character while avoiding repetition of what Jackman had already achieved.

In May 2018, Wilma Zimmerman was announced as the film’s director; however, she departed shortly thereafter to focus on another project. Around the same time, Goodwin released a lengthy video on social media addressing the film’s uncertain future, as well as other upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects. In July 2018, Goodwin revealed that the team was debating whether to drop the "Rebirth" subtitle, citing concerns that it could mislead audiences or negatively impact marketing efforts. Despite the internal debate, the decision was made to retain the title, affirming the project's identity within the evolving MCU.

By early 2019, reports surfaced that the film's progress had been hampered by creative disagreements among the writing team, spanning from mid-2018 to early 2019. These disputes centered on how to reimagine Wolverine’s world and introduce a new version of the character capable of replacing the beloved portrayal by Jackman. These challenges highlighted the difficulty of balancing respect for the character’s legacy with the need to innovate for a new era of storytelling.

Filming

Principal photography is scheduled to begin in March 2026 in London, and is expected to conclude in May. It was originally expected to begin in 2022, though was delayed to 2024, and then again to 2025 due to disputes, and then to 2026 due to the departure of Jackman.

Release

The Wolverine: Rebirth is scheduled to be released in the United States.