The MCU"s Wolverine Already Has A God-Tier Upgrade Before He"s Even Cast
The MCU's rebooted version of Wolverine may well outstrip Hugh Jackman's version. Captain America: Brave New World is set to introduce adamantium into the MCU by way of the dead celestial in Eternals, setting up a huge power boost for the legendary mutant berserker. Sadly, Hugh Jackman can't play the character forever and introducing adamantium into the universe is one step closer to having a Wolverine in the sacred timeline.
With vibranium being the essential replacement for adamantium in the MCU timeline, since Disney didn't have the rights to the X-Men yet, it was possible that the Wolverine in the Sacred Timeline would have had a vibranium skeleton instead. Thankfully, adamantium will be introduced into the universe soon, setting the stage for its importance to Wolverine as a character. The fact that it will be harvested from a celestial places a bigger importance on Eternals as a part of the MCU, since it has been largely ignored over the past few years.
How The MCU Has Changed Adamantium From Its Marvel Comics Origin No Longer A Man-Made Alloy, The Precious Metal May Be More Coveted Than Vibranium In Marvel's comic history, adamantium was created by Doctor Myron MacLain during World War II. It was first introduced in The Avengers #66 in 1969 as the outer shell for the villain Ultron. Of course, the MCU didn't have the rights to X-Men, so they opted to have vibranium be the pseudo-replacement for adamantium, which is what Ultron was made out of in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The MCU looks to change the origins of adamantium to fit better into the ongoing universe by introducing it through the Celestials.
Although this is a major change to the source material, it works around the rights issues and narratives already in place to make it quite compelling. It also places a greater importance on Eternals and the dead celestial Tiamut, which has been frequently ignored by most of the MCU stories despite being a massive "structure" protruding from the Earth. Finally, seeing some of the ramifications of the event helps make the universe post-Endgame feel a bit more cohesive.
MCU's Celestial Adamantium Change Makes Wolverine's Story Even More Badass He's Literally Made From Godly Material Close With the help of Hugh Jackman over the past two decades, audiences have seen just how cool Wolverine is as a character. A seemingly immortal man who was experimented on to the point of having an adamantium skeleton that makes him even more durable is a fascinating premise and the adamantium claws have become a significant part of superhero iconography. Despite being an overall tragic backstory for Logan, it makes him extremely cool and the way the MCU is introducing adamantium makes it somehow even cooler.
Wolverine The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men's wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics' biggest stars. He's played in Fox and Marvel's movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.
Created By Roy Thomas , Len Wein , John Romita Sr. Cast Hugh Jackman Movies X-Men , X2: X-Men United , X-Men: The Last Stand , X-Men Origins: Wolverine , X-Men: First Class , The Wolverine , X-Men Days of Future Past , X-Men: Apocalypse , Deadpool , Logan , Deadpool 2 , Deadpool & Wolverine TV Shows X-Men , X-Men '97 POWERS Retractible claws and Adamantium skeleton. Superhuman senses, stamina, and strength. Healing factor and longevity. NAME James "Logan" Howlett Status Alive Expand Having adamantium come from a god-like being that was inside the core of the Earth before dying, is an extremely metal way of introducing it into the MCU. Couple that with Wolverine getting that same metal grafted onto his skeleton, and it makes one of the coolest origins the universe has ever seen. It also can take over as the strongest metal in the entire MCU now that vibranium doesn't need to act as its replacement, making the MCU's Wolverine one of the most durable heroes around.
Why The MCU's Wolverine Introduction Is Set To Take Years The Mutant Saga Has Taken A Long And Winding Road In The MCU Hints of the X-Men and Wolverine have been slowly incorporated into the MCU over the past few years. In She-Hulk, there is a blink-and-you-miss-it moment that hints at Wolverine already being in the universe with a link to an article that states, "Man fights with metal claws in bar brawl." The end credits of The Marvels features a cameo from Beast when Monica Rambeau wakes up in another universe. Though there have been these smaller hints building up, the official introduction to the MCU version of the X-Men and Wolverine will most likely take place following the events of Avengers: Secret Wars.
With Hugh Jackman reprising the role in the immensely successful Deadpool & Wolverine, as well as possibly returning for Avengers: Secret Wars, introducing the MCU's official Wolverine might take a few more years. He is still incredibly popular as the character and seeing him interact with other Marvel movie legends like Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man might be too good of an opportunity for the MCU to pass up, letting him stay as Wolverine until the official introduction of the X-Men into the MCU.
At 55, Hugh Jackman can't play Wolverine forever, making a new cast for the character in the MCU even more likely.
Deadpool & Wolverine proved that the character of Wolverine is just as popular as he has ever been. Hugh Jackman has embodied the role for over two decades, but eventually the MCU will need to find someone else to take his place as the main Wolverine of the sacred timeline. With Captain America: Brave New World introducing adamantium into the MCU by harvesting it from the dead celestial in Eternals, the MCU's version of Wolverine will be getting a serious upgrade when he gets his adamantium skeleton.
Upcoming MCU Movies Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025 Thunderbolts*
Release Date May 2, 2025 The Fantastic Four (2025)
Release Date July 25, 2025 Blade (2025)
Release Date November 7, 2025 Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date May 1, 2026 Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date May 7, 2027