Hugh Jackman talks Wolvie 2

And now, in a break from my heavily Attack The Blog orientated programming . . . last month I interviewed Hugh Jackman ahead of the release of his robots punching other robots flick Real Steel. You can read that full interview here where he spoke about his family, boxing, and being a stage dad.

We also spoke about his much-troubled sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine. With directors like Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) dropping in and dropping out, production scheduled to start and then delayed, Jackman said it has been hard to maintain enthusiasm for his passion project.
“I’ve always been enthusiastic about it, but it was frustrating,” he said.
“Earlier this year I gained about 20 to 25 pounds for the role and then we were delayed again and I lost it.
“It’s physically and mentally demanding.” Now things are looking considerably better for the squel – titled The Wolverine – with filming set to begin in the “June or July” 2012 once Jackman gets off his record breaking Broadway run and wraps filming Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables. There’s also a new director on board, James Manogold (Girl Interupted, Walk The Line), someone Jackman said he’s “really” looking forward to working with.
“He’ a great director,” he said.
“I worked with him on Kate and Leopold and he’s very smart.
“I know he’s going to make an amazing film and this is the best script we’ve ever had.”

The Wolverine story picks up where the last film left off and loosely follows Frank Miller’s acclaimed Wolverine arc where he-of-the-many-claws heads to Japan and learns the ways of the Samurai. Along with facing off against new villain Silver Samuari, Jackman said X chromosomes will definitely be featuring more heavily.
“There will be more chicks for sure,” he said.
“It was very testosterone heavy last time.”

The Wolverine is tagged with a 2013 release.