Hugh Jackman’s hidden nod to Wolverine in ‘The Greatest Showman’
If you think of Hugh Jackman before 2017, you might get something like bulging muscles, bloodthirsty eyes, and adamantium claws with the impulse control of a kitten.
After, he appears twirling around a stage, tipping his top hat to strangers, and holding impressive high notes for what seems like an age. But, despite what you may think and your preference, there is a moment where both versions collide.
With the turn of the new century, Jackman tried on a new character that would suit him perfectly. James Howlett, known as Logan and by his codename Wolverine, originated as the main protagonist of 20th Century Fox’s X-Men film series, and was seen on the big screen for the first time in 2000’s X-Men. He has appeared in nine films since his introduction and has brutally killed over 50 people across his superhero streak.
Impressively, Jackman holds the Guinness World Record for ‘longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero’ for his raging Wolverine. It’s no surprise that he used the global hit, The Greatest Showman, to honour the role that truly cemented his celebrity status.
Consider the polar opposite of Wolverine, and you might get PT Barnum in The Greatest Showman, something he has previously deemed a “passion project”. Along with his sidekick, played by Zac Efron, Jackman’s Barnum attempts to create a world-class spectacle. He uses a healthy dose of entrepreneurial wit and undeniable ambition to raise himself and those around him out of poverty by means of running a circus.
However, the actor isn’t the only connecting force between the two projects. Despite being directed by Michael Gracey, the studio opted to bring in James Mangold during the final stage of the musical’s production. Mangold directed 2017’s Logan, where Jackman bids a heartwringing farewell to his beloved character, and in The Greatest Showman‘s credits, his name as executive producer comes decorated with Wolverine’s claw marks in all four corners of the screen.
This isn’t where the Wolverine Easter eggs pause. Speaking to ABC News, the actor honoured the similarities between the two protagonists, who may be different people on the surface, but they “both have fight”. He added, “At the end of the day, [Barnum] would not be told by anybody else. And that’s something definitely the Wolverine has. And I’ve got a little bit of that.”
Jackman found rehearsing and recording his musical numbers much more demanding than any fight scene in his last movie with Mangold, about which he noted, “And I can tell you this was tougher physically [more so than Logan]. If you dance for 12 hours a day, and we were singing, dancing, having the time of [our life], but it’s not easy.”
Now the overlap between the two projects is evident, where is this pesky carrot I’ve dangled before you for so long? It happens before things even really kick off. In the opening credits, in the top right of the border on the black screen, a little sketch can be seen. Nestled into the apparent floral arrangement is Wolverine’s bulky arms, with his claws extended, reaching out into the white image and providing an ornate flourish for the opening.
A rewatch might be on the cards, with remote controls at the ready. It’s one of those blink-and-you-miss-it moments, so resist the urge and hit pause if you do.
