With production scheduled to begin next month, the cast of 20th Century Fox’sWolverine 3is growing larger and larger. Today we have word that British actorsStephen MerchantandRichard E. Granthave joined the sequel, alongsideHugh Jackman,Patrick StewartandBoyd Holbrook, who is playing the main villain. No details were given forStephen Merchant’s character, butRichard E. Grantis said to be playing a villainous mad scientist.
Deadlinereports that more actors are in various stages of negotiations for the superhero adventure, although no specific names were mentioned, or what characters they may be playing.Wolverine 3will beHugh Jackman’s final performance as Logan, bringing a 17-year run as the beloved mutant to an end, spanning nine movies. It isn’t known ifStephen MerchantandRichard E. Grant’s characters are based in the Marvel Comics, or if they were created specifically for this movie.
Last week, a new casting call hinted thatWolverine 3is looking for an actress to play fan favorite mutantX-23, although that character still has not been confirmed yet. X-23, a.k.a. Laura Kinney, was created byCraig Kylefor the animated TV seriesX-Men: Evolution, making her debut on the show in 2004. She soon transferred over to the comics, where she was further created by bothCraig KyleandChristopher Yost, who went on to write the scripts forThorandThor: The Dark World. X-23 was cloned from Wolverine’s DNA, and her name comes from the fact that she was the 23rd attempt at creating a clone, and by far the most successful. Much likeWolverinehimself, X-23 has regenerative healing abilities and retractableadamantium claws, along with superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes and heightened senses.
James Mangold(The Wolverine) is directing from a script byDavid James Kelly, withLauren Shuler Donnerproducing. 20th Century Fox has already set a August 21, 2025 release date forWolverine 3, which doesn’t have any direct competition at the box office yet, although it will open one week before Warner Bros.‘Kong: Skull Islandand 20th Century Fox’sThe Boss Baby. BeforeWolverine 3hits theaters, though, fans will be able to seeHugh JackmaninX-Men: Apocalypsenext month, since his appearance was teased in a trailer that dropped this week.
Stephen Merchantis best known for co-creating the original U.K. version ofThe OfficewithRicky Gervais. He most recently voiced roles onThe SimpsonsandAmerican Dad, while appearing in a three-episode arc onThe Big Bang Theory.Richard E. Grantmost recently starred in USA Network’sDigand the U.K. seriesJekyl & Hyde. We’ll keep you posted with more casting updates as we get closer to production starting onWolverine 3.
