The Wolverine: Rebirth

This article is about the television series. For the comic book series, see Born Again (comics).

The Wolverine: Rebirth
File:The Wolverine Rebirth Logo.png
Genre	Action-adventure Crime drama Legal drama Superhero
Created by	Mob Productions
Based on	Marvel Comics
Showrunner	Wilma Zimmerman
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Production location	New York
Running time	48–59 minutes
Production company	SOI Studios
Original release
Network	Disney+
Release	present

The Wolverine: Rebirth is an upcoming American superhero television series 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 continuation of Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) and an installment in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Taron Egerton was cast as James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine in September 2023. He is joined by Anya Taylor-Joy, Paul Mescal, Sadie Sink, Barry Keoghan, Florence Pugh, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jeremy Allen White, Christoph Waltz, Jacob Elordi, Jeffrey Wright, Sophie Thatcher, and Clancy Brown.

The Wolverine: Rebirth began development in 2014 as a feature film set in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men universe but faced multiple script rewrites and production setbacks. Hugh Jackman was initially attached but exited in 2017, leading to a search for a younger Wolverine. After further delays and creative disputes, the project was scrapped in 2019 and reworked into a television series under SOI Studios, with Wilma Zimmerman as showrunner. The 10-episode first season, directly tying into Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), features Ryan Reynolds reprising his role as Deadpool.

The Wolverine: Rebirth is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on September 29, 2026. The first season will consist of 10 episodes.

Cast and characters

Main Cast

• Taron Egerton as James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine: A mutant with retractable adamantium claws, enhanced healing, and a tortured past.

• Anya Taylor-Joy as Raven Darkhölme / Mystique: A shape-shifting mutant with a long history with Wolverine. Sometimes ally, sometimes foe.

• Paul Mescal as Victor Creed / Sabretooth: Logan’s fiercest rival, possessing similar abilities but driven by primal rage.

• Sadie Sink as Laura Kinney / X-23: A young clone of Wolverine, trained as a weapon, searching for her own identity.

• Barry Keoghan as Arcade: A twisted, tech-savvy assassin who enjoys turning hunts into deadly games.

• Florence Pugh as Mariko Yashida: Wolverine’s lost love, caught between her family’s crime empire and her heart.

• Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Shingen Yashida Mariko’s ruthless father, head of the Yakuza, and master of the samurai blade.

• Jeremy Allen White as Remy LeBeau / Gambit: A smooth-talking mutant with kinetic energy powers and a gambler’s spirit.

• Christoph Waltz as Nathaniel Essex / Mister Sinister: A brilliant, sinister scientist obsessed with mutant genetics and Logan’s DNA.

• Jacob Elordi as Omega Red: A deadly Russian mutant with carbonadium tendrils, a dark past, and a vendetta.

• Jeffrey Wright as Professor Charles Xavier: Founder of the X-Men, guiding Logan while harboring secrets of his own.

• Sophie Thatcher as Rogue: A runaway mutant with the power to absorb abilities, trying to find her place.

• Clancy Brown as Colonel William Stryker: The man behind the Weapon X program, determined to control or destroy mutants.

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.

Rework as a television series

In September 2019, the project was officially scrapped in favor of developing a new iteration under a different creative direction. Shortly afterward, SOI Studios, also owned by Goodwin, announced that they would take over the project’s development without Goodwin’s direct involvement, as he was set to step down from leadership at the start of November 2019. By December, the project had been reworked into a television series rather than a feature film. The decision stemmed from the oversaturation of Wolverine-centric films and the belief that a serialized format would allow for deeper storytelling and a more grounded approach to reintroducing the character.

Despite the extensive revisions and a fresh vision for the series, Jackman remained firm in his decision not to return to the role, regardless of financial incentives or creative changes. Jackman reiterated that he was committed to retiring from playing Wolverine for good. With this in mind, Wilma Zimmerman, who had previously been attached to direct the film, returned to helm the series as its showrunner. She expressed her enthusiasm for the shift in format, vowing to make it "the best it can be" and ensuring that Wolverine’s legacy would be honored in a way that resonated with both longtime fans and new audiences.

Mob Productions initially envisioned the series as a 22-episode season, consistent with their approach to all television projects under their production. However, just a week later, it was officially announced that the first season would consist of 10 episodes, focusing on Wolverine and his team as they embark on a relentless hunt for answers. Zimmerman confirmed that the events of Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) would play a “vital role” in shaping the storyline of the season, ensuring a direct connection to the larger universe.

In February 2020, Zimmerman revealed that she had been approached by Ryan Reynolds, who portrays Wade Wilson / Deadpool in the Deadpool film series. Reynolds inquired whether the events of the show would impact the continuity of the 2024 film, sparking speculation about potential crossover elements. By the end of that month, it was confirmed that Reynolds would reprise his role as Deadpool in at least three episodes of the season, alongside members of the X-Force from Marvel Comics.

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 premiere on Disney+ on September 29, 2026. The first season will consist of 10 episodes. The first season was originally going to premiere in early 2025 but was then delayed to June 2025; December 2025; March 2026; then to its current release date.