ENGLISH TECH LATEST NEWS.: Logan Movie New 2017 Reviews.

Logan movie review:

Hugh Jackman delivers brutal, touching swansong to Wolverine
Logan movie review: Hugh Jackman’s final Wolverine film changes the face of superhero movies forever. It’s the farewell the most iconic X-Men character deserved. Rating: 4.5/5.

MOVIE REVIEWS Updated: 2017
Rohan Naahar
Rohan Naahar
Logan
Goodbye Logan. Thanks for all the memories.
Logan
Director - James Mangold
Cast - Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Stephen Merchant
Rating - 4.5/5

“Guys, you don’t want to do this.” We’ve been in this situation before. Logan is surrounded by half a dozen goons. They’re usually armed. Depending on where he is at that moment, he could be attacked by katanas, revolvers, or like this time, with monkey wrenches. But he warns them. It’s only fair. They don’t know who he is, what he’s capable of.

This is how Logan begins. But this time, events don’t pan out like they used to. Wolverine doesn’t have a wry smile on his face as he hacks and slashes his way out. This time, he gets beaten to a pulp, the blows break his bones, rip out his flesh. The wounds that once used to heal immediately are left gaping. There’s blood everywhere. And lot of swearing. This time, unlike the countless times before, Logan almost dies.

From the first moment Johnny Cash’s mournful voice graced that terrific trailer, there was a sense that Hugh Jackman and director James Mangold were not going to play by the rules anymore. For Jackman, it was his ninth time playing Wolverine, and for Mangold, it is another shot to perfect what he almost achieved in 2013, when he sent Logan to Japan.

For both of them however, it was now or never. Jackman’s missed no opportunity to tell everyone that this would be his last time playing the Wolverine, the character that defined his career, and would probably continue to define him for the rest of his life. Perhaps it was this pressure to do well, to erase bad memories (hopefully, after this, X-Men Origins will be forgotten), or perhaps it was the freedom afforded to it by the success of Deadpool, but Logan is unlike any superhero film you have seen. Like that Cash song, it is minimalistic, meditative, melancholy, and has nothing to lose anymore. We’ve seen him go through hell, we’ve seen him watch on as everyone he loves dies, and all he can do is keep living. All Wolverine can do is keep fighting. But what for?

The reason comes in the form of a girl, no older than 10.

When we catch up with Logan, grizzled, visibly older, the scars on his body like haunting memories of the past, it is 2029. No mutants have been born in the last 20 years. They’ve become folktales, legends passed on in comic books, and perhaps even movies. Logan scrapes a living driving a limo near the US-Mexico border. The little money he makes goes into buying medicine for his friend Charles, Professor X. They live in the desert, away from everyone else, together, like they have been for so many years. They’re all they have in this world.

And then, Laura arrives. She’s a lot like him, Charles tells Logan. She’s a mutant. The first one to come along in decades. And she’s the only hope they have. It is rumoured that thousands of miles away, in North Dakota, there is a safe haven for others like her, like them. That is where they must take her, away from the bad men.They do the only thing they can. In a subtle homage to the first X-Men movie, Logan takes the girl under his wing. They steal a car, grab some snacks, and take to the road.

It is said that the superhero movie will soon go the way of the movie Western (not by me, but by better minds, like Spielberg and Lucas), how it has arrived at a saturation point, how the six-shooters and cowboy hats made way for spandex and force fields as they journeyed towards their final destination. For an uncommonly grim film which would much rather contemplate mortality than gleefully demolish a city, the idea of Logan reviving a dying genre – two dying genres – is almost poetic.

There is only one way to push this genre forward, to prevent it from becoming obsolete. And that is to deconstruct it, to rip off all the excess CGI, all the capes and cowls, and exhume the essence of what makes these movies so great. Logan does that. And then it does it again.

It takes cues from classics like Children of Men, The Wrestler, and even the great video game The Last of Us. It is uncompromising in its brutality and fearless in its reverence of these iconic characters. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling, and what creative freedom can produce.

Logan’s cinematic journey began 17 years ago in a forest. He was making money fighting in cages. A young girl saved him then, she showed him what it was like to have a family, what it felt like to be good. In Logan, it takes another girl to show him who he really is, to remind him that his life was worth something.

It is the perfect swansong he could’ve got.
LOGAN STORY : Set in 2029, the film begins at a time when mutants are on the verge of extinction, Charles Xavier’s (Sir Patrick Stewart) school doesn’t exist anymore and he along with Logan (Hugh Jackman) lead an austere life hiding near the Mexican border before getting embroiled in a life and death situation.

LOGAN REVIEW : After 17 years of playing one of the most popular characters in the X-Men franchise, Hugh Jackman (Wolverine/ Logan) naturally has a lot riding on his hunky shoulders in Logan — the third and last installment in the solo Wolverine series. Don’t expect to see the X-Men in all their glory because the characters have aged and been through the fires. Xavier’s declining mental and physical health (he’s in his 90s now) and Logan’s ageing body almost make us feel sorry for the two characters. While Logan earns a living by driving a limousine, getting drunk and getting into fights, Xavier's disintegrating mind compels him to stay sedated in order to keep his colossal psychic powers under control. The film has a lot of gory scenes — there’s plenty of bloodshed thanks to Logan’s notorious adamantium claws — so be prepared. But what shines through the action are the number of emotional moments between the lead characters, making it the most moving film of the franchise so far.

Debutant Laura Kinney/ X-23 (Dafne Keen) at 11, will give tough competition to other actresses her age. With skills and claws just like Logan’s, the feisty youngster is being hunted down by a group of merciless troublemakers, who’re led by Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook). Logan and Xavier unwillingly become a part of the plan to save Laura and the trio embark on a dangerous adventure, which forms the crux of the film. It’s interesting to see how the relationship between the three characters plays out and how despite initial resistance from Logan, the trio become an unlikely family.

Also Read : I was fully invested in the movie. I knew it was my last chance: Hugh Jackman

What makes the movie different from other superhero flicks is the way director James Mangold has dealt with the subject — without hesitating to show his ageing superheroes go into battle while they fight their own inner demons. Also, the highlight of the film is Jackman’s compelling performance. He knows it is his swan song and he exits with a flourish — an unforgettable end to a remarkable odyssey. You don’t have to be a comic superhero fan to enjoy this movie — watch it for the outstanding performances by Jackman, Stewart and Keen. This one’s a gripping finale to Wolverine’s indomitable journey.
Logan movie review: Wolverine Hugh Jackman’s sendoff is unlike any other X-Men movie
Logan movie review: Hugh Jackman bids goodbye to X-Men universe and his role as Wolverine with Logan, which perfectly wraps up his film journey.

Written by Shalini Langer | New Delhi | Updated: March 3, 2017 7:19 pm
Logan movie review, Logan review, Logan, Logan cast, Wolverine Hugh Jackman, Wolverine, Hugh Jackman, Logan Hugh Jackman

Logan movie review: Hugh Jackman bids goodbye to X-Men universe and his role as Wolverine with Logan, which perfectly wraps up his film journey.
Logan movie cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Dafne Keen
Logan movie director: James Mangold
Long movie rating: 3.5 stars
It has pathos, it has grief, it has companionship, it has relationships, it has youth, it has age, it has anger, it has love, and yes it has action.
Logan happens to be the 10th film in the X-Men series — making it the seventh-highest-grossing film franchise of all time. Hugh Jackman has played Wolverine in nine of those films, including Logan. Neither of that is a reason to skip this one. On the contrary, there are lessons here in how to wrap up a film journey, as Jackman has announced Logan is — the end of his time in the X-men universe.
The fantastic Australian actor presents Wolverine here as a rasping, breathless, tired version of himself, dying physically as well as mentally as mutants such as him are forced into desert hideouts by a world that is targeting them. When the film wants us to have a glimpse of the Wolverine of the past, it finds a clever way to do that too.
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Apart from Logan, there are two others of the old mutants here. Logan is working as a driver to earn enough money to afford medicines to keep the other two, who can’t leave their hideout, going. Those two are Caliban (Merchant), an Albino who can trace people, and Charles Xavier (Stewart), who of course controls minds. Charles is kept hidden in an overturned, hollow water tank — a brutal setting suggestive of the cruel end to which the mutants have been pushed.
But then into the decaying world of Logan, Charles and Caliban, comes crashing in Laura. She is a new mutant, when Logan thought none more would be allowed or were possible. Plus, the child bears powers just like him, of claws embedded in her knuckles and also her feet. Could she be who we all think she is?
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It is a bonus that we can rarely expect in a superhero film, but writer-director Mangold, returning to the franchise, lends Logan strength not just from the superpowers on display but from the people wielding them. Each one of the actors in the film, starting from the terrific newcomer Keen and going up to Stewart, with a measured performance not one step out of place, leaves his or her mark. That includes Merchant, despite the heavy make-up, and even Holbrook, the military-type guy giving the chase.
Most of the film has Logan, Charles and Laura on the road, trying to escape capture as they make their way to the Canada border. They have conversations about life, as Charles emphasises to Logan he could have a go at it still. Laura, born and raised in a lab run by the same company that created the X-men, traipses through her first supermarket, watches her first Western, hears music from her first earphones, and has her first glimpse of what could be home.

Also read | Watch: Hugh Jackman wants Shah Rukh Khan to play Wolverine. Bring out those claws
The film is overwrought at times, overextends its stay as it makes its way towards an obvious sequel, and there is some gratuitous violence, particularly towards bystanders. However, at a time when the world is intent on marginalising ‘The Other’, Logan spells out unflinchingly the consequences of branding people “right” and “wrong”. “Brands that stick” — as the film tells us.
Logan (film)
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Logan
Logan 2017 poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by James Mangold
Produced by
Hutch Parker
Simon Kinberg
Lauren Shuler Donner
Screenplay by
Scott Frank
James Mangold
Michael Green
Story by James Mangold
Starring
Hugh Jackman
Patrick Stewart
Richard E. Grant
Boyd Holbrook
Stephen Merchant
Dafne Keen
Music by Marco Beltrami
Cinematography John Mathieson
Edited by
Michael McCusker
Dirk Westervelt
Production
companies
Marvel Entertainment
TSG Entertainment
Kinberg Genre
Hutch Parker Entertainment
The Donners' Company
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
February 17, 2017 (Berlin)
March 3, 2017 (United States)
Running time
137 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $97 million[2]
Box office $263.3 million[3]
Logan is a 2017 American superhero action thriller film featuring the Marvel Comics character Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman. The film, distributed by 20th Century Fox, is the tenth installment in the X-Men film series, as well as the third and final film solely focusing on Wolverine, following X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and The Wolverine (2013). It was directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Frank and Michael Green, from a story by Mangold, and also stars Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant and Dafne Keen. The film follows a past-his-prime Logan embarking on a road trip across a dystopian future America for one final mission.

Development of Logan began in November 2013, when Mangold was hired to write a treatment that took inspiration from the graphic novel Old Man Logan, by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. In March 2014, Jackman signed on to star as Logan, in what was intended to be his final portrayal of the character after having played the role for 17 years. The same month, Fox set a release date and officially brought Mangold on board to direct. Green took over writing duties in April 2015, and by the following April, most of the supporting roles had been cast. Principal photography began in New Orleans on May 2, 2016, and moved to Natchez, Mississippi, before ending on August 19, 2016, in New Mexico.

Logan premiered at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival on February 17, 2017, and was theatrically released in the United States on March 3, 2017, in standard and IMAX formats. It received praise from critics and fans, with some calling it one of the best films in the X-Men series, and has grossed $254 million worldwide against its $97 million budget as of March 6, 2017
Plot
In the year 2029, mutants are on the brink of extinction, with no new mutants having been born in 25 years. James "Logan" Howlett, formerly known as Wolverine, spends his days working as a chauffeur and hustling for prescription drugs in Texas. He has aged greatly because the adamantium fused to his bones has started poisoning him and impeding his healing factor. Logan lives with mutant tracker Caliban in an abandoned smelting plant across the border in Mexico, where they care for Professor Charles Xavier, who is suffering from a neurodegenerative disease which causes him to lose control of his telepathic abilities to devastating effect. One day, Logan is approached by Gabriela, a nurse for biotechnology corporation Alkali-Transigen, who wants him to escort her and an 11-year-old girl named Laura to a place in North Dakota called "Eden". Donald Pierce, Transigen's cybernetically-enhanced chief of security, tracks down Logan and requests that he help him find Laura, but Logan refuses.

After reluctantly accepting the job from Gabriela, Logan discovers that she has been murdered. He, Xavier, and Laura narrowly escape from Pierce and his cybernetically-enhanced enforcers, the Reavers, but Caliban is captured and forced to use his powers to track them. Logan and Xavier learn through a video on Gabriela's phone that Transigen was breeding mutant children using DNA samples from several mutants for the "X-23" project, but found that the children were difficult to control as they grew up. Upon completion of the "X-24" project, the children were deemed obsolete and were to be terminated. Gabriela helped several children escape from the Transigen compound before smuggling Laura, who is revealed to be Logan's biological daughter, across the border.

While staying in Oklahoma City, Logan finds Eden referenced in one of Laura's X-Men comics and concludes that it is purely fictional. The Reavers catch up with them, but Xavier suffers another seizure and telepathically freezes everyone in the hotel, allowing Logan to kill the attackers before injecting Xavier with a suppressant and escaping. While on the highway, the trio helps a family, the Munsons, round up their horses after a traffic incident. The Munsons invite them over for dinner, and they accept under the guise of being a trigenerational family. When a nearby pipe springs a leak, Logan and the Munson father, Will, leave the house to fix it.

While Logan is gone, Xavier recalls a telepathic seizure he had in Westchester, where he inadvertently killed several civilians and X-Men. He expresses his guilt to a person he thinks is Logan, but which is actually X-24, who proceeds to stab Xavier through the chest before slaughtering the Munson family. Logan returns to find X-24 carrying a shackled Laura out of the house and a critically injured Xavier. Xavier succumbs to his wound and Caliban sets off two grenades to destroy the Transigen van in which he is being held captive, sacrificing himself in the process. Logan engages X-24, who gains the upper hand before a barely alive Will impales X-24 on a combine harvester with his truck. He attempts to shoot Logan before keeling over dead, allowing Logan and Laura to escape.

After burying Xavier, Logan passes out from exhaustion. He wakes up in a clinic that Laura had driven him to, but refuses treatment for his adamantium poisoning and leaves the facility. He wants to abandon the trip to Eden, but Laura convinces him to complete it. Meanwhile, X-24 is given a serum to aid in his regeneration by his creator Dr. Zander Rice, the head of Transigen.

Logan and Laura arrive at Eden, a safe haven run by Rictor and the other Transigen test subjects that managed to escape. Rictor gives Logan small doses of the mutant serum to help him heal. Logan learns that the children plan to make a journey across the forest to the Canadian border, where there are people willing to help them. Fearful that his presence may endanger their safety, Logan plans to part ways with them. However, this changes when the children are ambushed by the Reavers in the forest. Logan takes an overdose of the serum to restore his healing factor and begins slaughtering the Reavers in a berserker rage, but the serum's effects quickly wear off. Dr. Rice, who confirms that Logan killed his father during Logan's escape from the Weapon X program at Alkali Lake, reveals that the destruction of mutantkind is due to a virus created by Transigen, whose intent is to control the mutant population and create their own weaponized version. Logan shoots and kills Rice before Pierce releases a regenerated X-24, who engages Logan. The children wipe out the remaining Reavers before overwhelming Pierce with their powers.

Logan and Laura fight X-24, with Rictor using his seismic powers to help them. However, X-24 gains the upper hand and impales Logan on the branches of a fallen tree. Just as X-24 is about to finish Logan, Laura shoots X-24 with an adamantium bullet, killing him. Fatally wounded, Logan tells Laura not to be the weapon she was made to be before dying in her arms. Laura and the other children mourn his death and hold a somber burial. Laura tearfully adjusts the cross on his grave to form an "X" before continuing with the rest of the mutants on their journey across the border in search of a new beginning.

Cast

The film is said to be Hugh Jackman's final portrayal of the character; he has played the role for 17 years in nine films.
Hugh Jackman as James Howlett / Logan / Wolverine and X-24
A physically enhanced mutant with accelerated healing, dealing with his age and ailment.[5][6] He is one of Charles Xavier's caregivers, alongside Caliban.[7] Mangold spoke of Logan's age influencing his regenerative capabilities, which he stated may no longer produce soft skin:[8] "... So we imagined he heals quickly, still, but it leaves a scar. The simple idea was that his body would start to get a little more ravaged with a kind of tattooing of past battles, lacerations that remain of previous conflicts."[9] Jackman indicated that he believed he was nearing the end of his run as Wolverine, and there was speculation early on that his next film could be his last.[10] On the second page of the screenplay, Mangold spoke of Logan as "... he's older now and it's clear his abilities aren't what they once were. He's fading on the inside and his diminished healing factor keeps him in a constant state of chronic pain—hence booze as a painkiller."[11][12] In 2015, Jackman requested fan input for the direction Wolverine's story should go in the next film, while seeming to confirm that the project would serve as his farewell to Logan.[13] To prepare for his role, Jackman ate a minimum of six meals per day, when working with trainer Mike Ryan.[14] Ryan stated that an average workout session for Jackman lasts up to three hours, beginning at 4:00 a.m.[15] Jackman stated, "... it's going to be very different. Very different in tone and hopefully different to anything we've done."[16] Regarding the more personal tone Jackman noted "That's always been really his dilemma, coming to terms with who he is".[17] Jackman has also explained that comedian Jerry Seinfeld was indirectly responsible for his decision to stop playing Logan after 17 years, with Jackman stating, "I was having a chat with [Seinfeld] about a year ago ... he was talking about why he finished Seinfeld ... He said he'd always had this feeling and belief that you never know when either your energy or the audience's energy is going to dip over into people [saying] 'Oh, please go.'"[18] Jackman accepted a pay reduction to ensure that the film would be produced to receive an R-rating.[19] Jackman also plays a clone of Logan called X-24, who is designed by Transigen to be the perfect killing machine.
Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier / Professor X
A mutant who is the world's most powerful telepath, and founder and former leader of the X-Men.[20][21] Charles's telepathic abilities have become unstable, and at times he does not even remember who Logan is.[7] During the events of Logan, Xavier is cared for by Logan and Caliban.[22] Regarding Xavier and the themes of ageing and loneliness, Mangold said,[23] "We've seen these characters in action, saving the universe. But what happens when you're in retirement and that career is over?...[24] The really interesting thing to me, or a place to dig that hadn't been dug, was the idea of mutants when they're no longer useful to the world, or even sure if they can do what they used to do. Their powers are diminished like all of ours are by age...[6] Our Charles is a very sweet character in this film. I think he's always been an incredibly sweet character. With the addition of his own physical fragility in this movie, he becomes an incredibly powerful paternal figure in the movie. Logan is more of a reluctant one, I think you can easily guess," Mangold stated.[25] Stewart remarked that "... this is probably the end of this franchise for me. But the thing about science fiction and fantasy is that you can never, ever say it's the end, it's over."[26] One month before the film's U.S. premiere, Stewart concluded that he will retire the role of Charles Xavier, stating that "there will never be a better, a more perfect, a more sensitive, emotional, and beautiful way of saying au revoir to Charles Xavier than this movie".[27]
Richard E. Grant as Zander Rice
Surgical head of the project Transigen,[28] whose father was killed by Logan during his appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse.[29] On the character of Rice, Mangold stated, "He's the puppet master behind Pierce and the Reavers, and has a much larger role in the sense that he's actually the kind of brilliant mind that is trying to grow mutants."[25]
Boyd Holbrook as Donald Pierce
Transigen's relentless, calculating and intense head of security, and leader of the Reavers,[28][25][30][31] who is sent to retrieve Laura, thus bringing him into conflict with Wolverine. Holbrook said of the character, "He's an innovative engineer and he's a big fan of Wolverine. He just wants to hang out with him ... There's a lot of surprising stuff in it.[32] Mangold praised Holbrook's performance, saying that "[he] is just a fabulous actor. I wanted this film to feel intimate and real and truthfully acted, and I wanted very much to break away from the kind of bloated feeling I've gotten from a lot of comic-book movies."[25]
Stephen Merchant as Caliban
An albino mutant who can sense and track other mutants, who is helping Logan take care of Xavier.[7] On Merchant taking the role, Mangold mentioned, "I'm always interested to find the thing that looks most interesting on the actors. Stephen is a huge man. One of the things that is so wonderful filming with him for a character like this is that he’s a good six inches taller than Logan, and huge over Patrick. The little kid in the movie would come up to basically his knee. So there's a wonderful sense of scale – but he has heart too." Mangold concluded by stating, "...So that was a wonderful energy to enter the movie, and someone who instead of turning things into their own energy kind of joined ours."[6] Caliban was previously portrayed by Tómas Lemarquis in X-Men: Apocalypse.[33]
Dafne Keen as Laura / X-23
A mysterious young mutant, who is "very much" like Logan,[28][6] given that she is a female clone created from his blood, which was shown to be retrieved by the Essex Corporation at the end of X-Men: Apocalypse. Eventually Transigen acquired some of Logan's DNA, and began making clones to use as weapons.[34] On Keen's portrayal of Laura, Mangold mentioned, "If anyone could steal a movie from [Jackman], it would be Dafne. She carries, all the time, a slight strangeness."[35] Sienna Novikov served as Keen's stunt double.[36][37] In an interview with Digital Spy, Mangold stated, "... [Keen] was 11 years old when were shooting. She's a remarkable kid. Her parents are actors, and she's kind of a very modern kid. Very physically capable. Incredibly gifted as an actress. I mean, it was a huge risk for Fox to allow me to make a movie where the third point of the triangle was built upon someone so young." Mangold stated that the worldwide search for an actress to portray Laura was one in which he was seeking "someone who was bilingual because I wanted a Latina kid – one who was between 10 and 12, and was a credible child." He later stated of Laura that: "She's an 11-year-old girl equipped with all the volatility, instability, mood swings, shadows and potential violence of our hero."[25]
Elizabeth Rodriguez as Gabriella, a nurse working for Transigen who helped Laura escape.
Eriq La Salle as Will Munson, the father of a family who helps Logan, Charles, and Laura.
Elise Neal[38] as Kathryn Munson, Will's wife.
Additionally, Doris Morgado, David Kallaway, Han Soto, Jayson Genao, and Krzysztof Soszynski appear as Maria, Danny Rhodes, Valet, Rictor, and Mohawk, respectively.[39][40][41][42] In the commentary to X-Men: Apocalypse, director Bryan Singer had stated that his film's post-credits scene would directly connect with the on-screen debut of X-Men antagonist Nathaniel Essex / Mister Sinister in Logan;[43][44][45][46][47] however, in January 2017, Mangold stated that the character would not appear in this film, a choice he made to keep the film's grounded style consistent.[48] Though Mister Sinister does not appear in the film, Kinberg confirmed the scene has correlation to how Laura was created, and that he will make an appearance in a future X-Men movie.[34] Ryan Reynolds makes an appearance as Wade Wilson / Deadpool in a pre-film sequence, exclusively in the U.S. theatrical release. The short sequence, which plays before the opening scene of Logan and is meant to be a first-look at the untitled Deadpool sequel was directed by David Leitch, who will direct the film. A longer version of this An extended short film version of the sequence, titled Deadpool: No Good Deed, was later released by Reynolds on his YouTube channel, which features a cameo appearance by Stan Lee as himself.[49][50][51]

Production
Development
"Hugh and I have been talking about what we would do since we were working on the last one, and for both of us it was this requirement that, to be even interested in doing it, we had to free ourselves from some assumptions that had existed in the past, and be able to change the tone a bit. Not merely to change for change’s sake, but also to make something that’s speaking to the culture now, that’s not just the same style — how many times can they save the world in one way or another? How can we construct a story that’s built more on character and character issues, in a way as if it almost wasn’t a superhero movie, yet it features their powers and struggles and themes?"

— James Mangold, on the development and approach of Logan[52]
In November 2013, 20th Century Fox began negotiations for another solo film starring Wolverine, with James Mangold in negotiations to write the treatment for the film, and Lauren Shuler Donner returning to produce under The Donners' Company.[53][54][55][56] At the time, Hugh Jackman neither confirmed nor denied whether he had officially signed on to reprise Logan in another film,[57][58] though Jackman insisted that his lapsing contract with Fox, which reportedly would need to be renegotiated after X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014),[59] did not mean he would leave the franchise, as he had been working movie-by-movie since X2 (2003).[60] He also stated, "I do want to do it with Jim and with [producer] Lauren Shuler-Donner because we had such a great experience. I'm really proud of The Wolverine (2013)."[61] Later in the month, Mangold announced that the pre-production aspect of the film had not begun as of yet, nor the writing process, though he furthered this by stating, "... I would say I’m not there yet. But I have taken finger to key. Let’s say that. There’s been typing. And ideas. And talking amongst all the principals."[62]

Shortly after the release of The Wolverine, Mangold spoke of a potential sequel with the aim of not converting it into a "Will the world survive?" film, while also stressing "... not to make the same picture again."[63][64] Mangold also mentioned some of the potential development structure that he might employ, while also addressing issues of character-centricity:[65] "I think the key thing for me, you heard me talking about how I construct scripts, is just figuring out the key relationships and just what it’s about, what theme the whole thing is going to be about. I've got a good angle on it, but I'm not ready to talk about it yet!"[66] In December 2013, Jackman spoke of nearing the end of his tenure as the character, while stating that the film was in the very early stages of development.[67] Jackman also revealed that Mangold and he had begun speaking of potential ideas, adding, "... Jim Mangold and I were literally on the phone last night talking about ideas but there is no script and no writer yet so it's a way off."[68]

By March 2014, a decision was made to begin shooting after Bryan Singer's X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), with the tentative plan to shoot it back-to-back,[69][70] with producer Hutch Parker stating, "... the goal will be X:Men: Apocalypse for 2016, which means at the latest [filming begins] in summer 2015, and then the same thing with Wolverine, either before or after, but based on the script."[71] Also in March, 20th Century Fox set a release date of March 3, 2017,[72][73] Mangold boarded the project as director,[74] Jackman signed on to reprise his role,[75] and David James Kelly was hired to pen the as-yet unnamed screenplay.[76] In April 2014, Jackman spoke about his ambitious feelings for the character of Logan, while mentioning that they can go further than what they achieved in The Wolverine.[77] Jackman also expressed his feelings of finality with portraying the character of Logan,[78] while in terms of storyline, he explained that nothing had been decided as of yet.[79] Jackman concluded by highlighting that the success of the script development would determine whether or Jackman would return at all:[80] "I haven't signed on. I'm genuinely at that point where unless it's better than the last one I'm not going to do it. I think it has to be better. I can still see where we can improve on the last one. I love the intimacy of that story, I liked the small stuff, I liked that it was a little unexpected."[81]

In February 2015, Patrick Stewart spoke of discussions about the third Wolverine film centering around a team-up between Jackman's Wolverine and himself as Charles Xavier,[82][83] with Stewart stating to Marc Mohan that "... we have been talking about a Wolverine movie, which would team Hugh Jackman and myself together ... That would be a very different sort of X-Men from the four movies that I've already done."[84][85] By April 2015, Michael Green had taken over screenwriting duties, with Mangold still actively overseeing the script development process.[86] In September 2015, Jackman spoke of the writers being halfway through the script and that the story would delve into the relationship between Wolverine and Professor X,[87] to which he added, "I think it's a really important relationship but I want to see signs of that quasi-father/son sort of relationship that has not been seen before, and sides of particularly Professor X that have not been seen before."[88][89] Jackman spoke of Mangold's plan to start filming next year, though he expressed uncertainty as to the filming locations.[90] Also in September, Mark Millar, creative consultant for Fox, confirmed that Mangold's film would be a loose adaptation of the Old Man Logan story, something that was hinted at earlier by Jackman.[91] In October 2016, the title of the film was announced as Logan.[92][93]

In January 2016, Jackman confirmed that Mangold had a full screenplay, albeit not complete.[94] The following month, Liev Schreiber expressed interest in returning to portray Victor Creed / Sabretooth, with Jackman himself mentioning Mangold's vision to Schreiber. After the film's release, it was revealed by Jackman that originally the script had the character play a role in the film, but that Sabretooth was excluded from the final screenplay.[95][96][97][98][99] By April 2016, Mangold had chosen actor Boyd Holbrook to portray the main antagonist of the movie,[100][101][102] the chief of security for a global corporation that is pursuing Wolverine.[103][104] Also by April, Richard E. Grant was cast as an as-of-yet unnamed villainous mad scientist,[105][106] and Stephen Merchant was cast in an unspecified role.[107][108][109][110][111] In May, Eriq Lasalle and Elise Neal were cast in as-of-yet unnamed roles,[112][113] and Elizabeth Rodriguez entered in negotiations for a small but key role.[114][115] Also in May, producer Simon Kinberg revealed that filming had already begun and confirmed that the movie would be R-rated; regarding the setting and tonality,[116] he stated, "It takes place in the future, and as you and others have reported, it is an R-rated movie. It's violent, it’s kind of like a western in its tone. It’s just a very cool, different film."[117][118]

Filming

Some scenes for Logan were filmed at the NASA Michoud Plant in New Orleans East
In March 2015, Mangold anticipated that filming would begin "early next year."[119] Prior to filming, the film was given the working title of Juarez to lower the visibility of the production.[120][121][122][123] By March 2016, Mangold was preparing to shoot in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a starting schedule of May.[124] Producers Kinberg, Shuler Donner and Parker choose to film in Louisiana because of its popularity as a filmmaking location,[125] as well as its filming incentive which includes a 40% tax credit for movie productions but requires a minimum spend of $300,000.[126]

Principal photography began in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 2, 2016,[127] although it was originally scheduled to start shooting on April 25, 2016.[125][128][129] Other filming locations in Louisiana included the NASA Michoud Plant in New Orleans East,[130] Amite City,[131] Husser, the Greenlawn Cemetery in Hammond,[132] Metairie,[133] and the Ferriday Plaza Shopping Center.[134] Exterior scenes were filmed along Louisiana Highway 15.[135] A crash scene was shot on U.S. Route 425 just outside of Ferriday, Louisiana.[134] Producers Kinberg, Shuler Donner and Parker choose to film in Ferriday because of Concordia Parish's beautiful countryside and green cornfields.[136] Scenes were also shot at Sicily Island High School and a house in Sicily Island.[134]

From June 14 to 28, 2016,[137] production was scheduled to take place in Natchez, Mississippi to film a scene that required the casting of truck drivers.[138] On July 12, 2016, production moved to its third major filming location – New Mexico – which ran through August in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Abiquiú, Tierra Amarilla and Chama.[139][140][141][142][143][144] According to the New Mexico Film Office, production employed about 130 New Mexican crew members and two New Mexican cast members, as well as 600 extras.[145] Scenes were shot at the Northern Meadows neighborhood of Rio Rancho, while a few miles further down King Boulevard an elaborate set was built with a toppled water tower,[141] that was used for exterior shots.[146][147] Principal photography concluded in New Mexico on August 13, 2016.[148][149][150]

Post-production
Post-production began subsequent to filming closure on August 23, 2016.[151][152][153] Film editor Michael McCusker described the process of going through dailies and breaking them down, and figuring out the structure of one scene as being "complicated".[154] McCusker stated that the task was time consuming on the front end, but added, "I am looking at the back end experience with [Mangold] as the more important experience. I don't want to be searching for stuff for him, I want to working towards getting the cut right."[154]

Chas Jarrett was the overall visual effects supervisor and visual effects company Image Engine worked on most of the visual effects on Logan.[155][156][157]

Music
In July 2016, Cliff Martinez was announced as the composer of Logan's musical score.[158][159][160][161] However, in December 2016, Mangold announced that Marco Beltrami, who had previously collaborated with Mangold on 3:10 to Yuma (2007) and The Wolverine (2013), would score Logan instead.[162]

Influences
Director James Mangold has said that Logan's influences included "visual reference points" of cinema, citing Shane (1953), The Cowboys (1972), Paper Moon (1973), The Gauntlet (1977), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), and The Wrestler (2008).[163][164][165][166]

Mangold spoke of cinematography-based framing, while noting that he does not necessarily think about the "comic-book" related sort, instead highlighting the variety of stylistic influences that went into Logan.[167] These influences include film noir framings and classic Hollywood filmmaking styles, as well as the Germanic expressionist filmmaking style of the early part of the last century, which Mangold stated has a commonality with comic-book art.[168] Mangold highlighted "Strong foregrounds, playing things in depth: you have to make an image say more within that one image."[169]

Using the image of Logan at a funeral as an example of his stylistic logic,[170] Mangold concluded by mentioning the aspects within modern filmmaking, primarily everything in close-up format. For Logan, his aim was to set frames that are descriptive, and evocative of comic-book panels and classical filmmaking.[171]

Release
Logan premiered at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival on February 17, 2017, in Berlin, Germany,[172] where it was selected to be screened out of competition[173][174] alongside The Bar, Final Portrait, Midwife, T2 Trainspotting, and Viceroy's House,[175][176] before screening in the United States, where it was given a wide release on March 3, 2017.[177][178][179][180] In October 2015, Fox confirmed that Logan would be released in the IMAX format.[181][182][183] In the US and Canada, the film was preceded by a short film, Deadpool: No Good Deed. In it, Deadpool notices a man getting robbed, and springs into action – but first has to change into his costume in a phone booth. As he is finishing up, the man is shot; the short film ends with Deadpool commenting on the strangeness of the phone booth's presence, and eating the man's Cherry Garcia ice cream. The teaser met with positive reviews. Ryan Reynolds posted an extended version of the teaser via his YouTube channel the day after the film's release.[184]

One Last Time promotion
Prior to the confirmation that the then-untitled Logan would be his final appearance in the X-Men film franchise, Jackman initially refuted such rumors. Jackman stated that he was inspired by Michael Keaton's performance in Birdman, and wished to portray the character of Wolverine until his death.[185][186] In July 2015, Jackman posted an image of Logan giving the middle finger with a claw to his Twitter. The image, coupled with the hashtag "#OneLastTime", signified that the film would be his last appearance as Logan, and officially announced his decision to stop playing the character he had been portraying for the past 17 years.[187][188][189]

During an appearance on The Dr. Oz Show in May 2015, Jackman clarified the confusion over the conflicting sentiments, by stating bluntly that the film would be his final portrayal as the character; he said, "This will be my last one, it is my last time. It just felt like it was the right time to do it, and let's be honest, 17 years. I never thought in a million years it would last, so I'm so grateful to the fans for the opportunity of playing it. I kind of have in my head what we're going to do in this last one. It just feels like this is the perfect way to go out."[190] Jackman reiterated these sentiments the following month, during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Michael.[191]

In December 2016, Ryan Reynolds revealed that he had been trying to convince Jackman to re-sign for a Wolverine/Deadpool crossover film. Urging fans to campaign online, he stated, "I want Deadpool and Wolverine in a movie together. What we're gonna have to do is convince Hugh. If anything, I'm going to need to do what I can to get my internet friends back on board to help rally another cause down the line. Hugh Jackman is one of the best human beings. Part of the reason I want to do a Deadpool/Wolverine movie is not just because I think the two would light the screen on fire but I genuinely love the guy."[192] In January 2017, Reynolds and Jackman spoke about the proposed project; Jackman stated, "I’m hesitating, because I could totally see how that’s the perfect fit. But the timing may be wrong."[193] Jackman later stated that he would not reprise the role for a team-up film, specifying, "No, and Ryan is currently sleeping outside my house. [Laughs] Look, if that movie had appeared 10 years ago, probably a different story, but I knew two and a half years ago that this was the last one. The first call I made was to [director James Mangold]. I said, 'Jim, I got one more shot at this,' and as soon as Jim came up with the idea and we worked on it, I was never more excited. But, it feels like the right time. Deadpool, go for it man, do your thing. You don’t need me."[194]

Jackman did however state that he would be willing to keep playing Wolverine if the character had been brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, elaborating "If that was on the table when I made my decision, it certainly would have made me pause. That’s for sure. Because I always love the idea of him within that dynamic, with the Hulk obviously, with Iron Man but there’s a lot of smarter people with MBAs who can’t figure that out. You never know. At the moment, honestly, if I really did have them there, I probably wouldn’t have said this is the last. It just feels like this is the right time [to leave the character]."[195]

Marketing
In April 2016, Fox decided not to showcase its upcoming movie releases, including Logan, at Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, as the studio felt it could not prevent the piracy of custom trailers and exclusive footage routinely screened for fans in attendance.[196][197]

On October 20, 2016, 20th Century Fox released a 90-second teaser trailer to promote Logan,[198] following a 6-second sneak peek the prior day.[199] Later that day, 20th Century Fox released an international red band version of the trailer, featuring slightly more graphic violence than the original.[200][201] Empire Magazine chose the trailer as the best trailer of the year.[202] The Hollywood Reporter's Aaron Couch praised the trailer, and stated, "If Logan delivers on the promise of this trailer, it will be a true rarity in modern superhero movie making."[203] James Dyer of Empire heralded the trailer and its director, James Mangold, by stating: "We've had a veritable feast of great trailers ... from John Wick to Rogue One, Assassin's Creed and A Cure for Wellness. But none ..., no matter how impressive, have been quite so artfully constructed as this glorious first look at [Mangold]'s Logan."[204] Forrest Wickman of Slate called the trailer "surprisingly mournful".[205]

Reception
Box office
As of March 6, 2017, Logan has grossed $95.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $159 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $254.6 million, against a production budget of $97 million.[3] Worldwide, the film had a global debut of $247.4 million from 82 markets, the biggest of 2017 and the fifth-biggest ever for Fox, as well as the second biggest R-rated IMAX debut, with $20.6 million from 1,068 screens.[206]

North America
Predictions for its opening in North America were continuously revised upwards, from $55 million to as high as $80 million, with box office pundits noting that the figures could climb even higher.[207][208][209][210][211] Fox, however, was more conservative with its estimations, predicting an opening in the mid $60 million range.[212] Logan received a record breaking release across 4,071 theaters, the widest for an R-rated film (breaking American Sniper's 3,888 theater count). It is also the widest R-rated IMAX release, across 381 IMAX theaters. 580 theatres were premium large format screens.[207] Two days before the film's release, ticket selling site Fandango reported that the film was outpacing all previous X-Men movies (except Deadpool) at the same point in their sales cycle.[213]

Logan earned $9.5 million from Thursday night previews, which began at 7 pm. This marked the second biggest previews in the X-Men franchise, behind only Deadpool's $12.7 million.[214] On its opening day, the film scored the biggest R-rated March opening, with $33.1 million (breaking 300's record), as well as the third biggest R-rated debut after Deadpool ($47.3 million) and The Matrix Reloaded ($37.5 million).[215] Earning a total of $88.4 million during its opening weekend, the film scored the biggest Wolverine movie opening, the biggest R-rated March opening, the fourth biggest March opening, the fifth-largest X-Men opening, and the fifth biggest R-rated opening overall (ninth in terms of inflation adjusted).[216][217] It is also the biggest R-rated opening weekend that did not take place on a holiday.[218] Approximately 8.2% of the total ticket sales came from Canada, with premium large formats comprising $12.3 million (15%) from 558 screens, and IMAX comprising $10 million (12%) of the film's total opening weekend.[219]

Males comprised a bulk of the audience demographic during its opening weekend, with 63%, while females comprised 37%, with 83% of the audience being between 18 and 44 years of age.[219] Critics noted that the R rating – the second ever for the X-Men franchise – could be a hindering factor in the film's mass appeal. However, by the time of its release, the film was acclaimed by critics and raved by audiences. Good reviews, anticipation from fans, as well as lack of competition were highlighted behind the film's robust opening.[208] According to a poll conducted by Fandango during its opening weekend, 71% of moviegoers said that more superhero films should be rated R, while 86% were interested in seeing a more violent, adult X-Men film that weekend. Furthermore, 96% said they were excited to see Hugh Jackman, 94% were intrigued to see Patrick Stewart reprising his role as Professor X, and 76% were interested in watching newcomer Dafne Keen.[220]

Outside North America
Outside North America, Logan was projected to open as high as $105 million. In North America, though, forecasters believed that it could post an even higher opening if it were to overperform in major markets--most notably China. It opened day-and-date in almost every major market except Japan, where Doraemon the Movie 2017 was released. Fox ultimately decided to postpone the film's release there in order to avoid competition.[207] Through Sunday, the film exceeded expectations and posted a five-day opening worth $152.5 million from 81 markets. This is Fox International's third biggest launch of all time, behind X-Men: Days of Future Past ($172 million) and Avatar ($164 million).[206] It debuted at No. 1 in 80 markets. It broke the record for the biggest R-rated IMAX release ever and the biggest 2D IMAX opening, with $10.6 million on 687 screens.[206]

In Brazil, it recorded the biggest opening for Fox, and the seventh biggest opening overall, with $8.2 million. The top openings were in China ($46.3 million), the U.K. ($11.4 million), Korea ($8.2 million), and Russia ($7.1 million).[206] In India, the film debuted with an estimated 17 crore ($2.5 million) net, equating to a gross of $3.4 million, on 1,400 screens. According to Fox, that was the highest debt for any X-Men title in the territory, marginally ahead of X-Men: Apocalypse. While the debut was not enough to break any significant records, it ranked as the second biggest opening weekend for a Hollywood release in the January-March quarter, behind Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.[221] In China, it became the first ever film – both local and foreign – required by a new law, promulgated by the Film Promotion Law, to feature an age-restriction warning in its marketing material; it went into effect on March 1, 2017, despite fourteen minutes of the film's running time being truncated.[222] Despite such restrictions, the film managed to debut with a better-than-expected $48.9 million, including previews, according to data from Ent Group (Fox reported $46.3 million). This marked the second biggest X-Men opening in the country, trailing behind only Apocalypse. Tracking showed that the film opened with 85,000 screenings on Friday, which increased to about 95,000 on Saturday and Sunday, from a 9.98 million attendance. Included within that total was $4.4 million from 388 IMAX screens.[223]

Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 92%, based on 250 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Hugh Jackman makes the most of his final outing as Wolverine with a gritty, nuanced performance in a violent but surprisingly thoughtful superhero action film that defies genre conventions."[224] Metacritic, another review aggregator, assigned the film a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on 50 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[225] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale.[226]

Scott Collura of IGN gave Logan a score of 9.7/10, and called the film, "an emotional, heavy picture, but it’s also an uplifting one that reminds us that it’s okay to fight for something more, something better," and "perhaps the best X-Men movie yet."[227] A.A. Dowd of The A.V. Club gave the film an 'A-', and said "[the film] manages to deliver the visceral goods, all the hardcore Wolverine action its fans could desire, while still functioning as a surprisingly thoughtful, even poignant drama—a terrific movie, no 'comic-book' qualifier required."[228] Chris Nashawaty of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a 'B-', and called it "both the most violent film in the series and the most sentimental one. When it's not showering you in blood, it's trying to make you spill tears."[229] Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter reacted positively, saying: "Seamlessly melding Marvel mythology with Western mythology, [director] James Mangold has crafted an affectingly stripped-down standalone feature, one that draws its strength from Hugh Jackman's nuanced turn as a reluctant, all but dissipated hero."[230]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave it 4/5, stating the best part of the film was "...the unexpectedly poignant relationship between Xavier and Logan," and added, "I’d be tempted to call them the Steptoe and Son of the mutant world." He also compared Wolverine's hitting of his truck to Basil Fawlty from Fawlty Towers.[231] James Berardinelli of ReelViews gave it 3.5/4 and said, "In terms of tone and content, Logan is Deadpool's polar opposite but both productions refuse to play by traditional superhero movie rules ... With his glimpse into what superhero movies can be, James Mangold has given us something sadly lacking in recent genre entries: hope."[232] Kyle Smith of the New York Post also gave the film 3.5/4 and said "the film recognizes that superhero movies such as last year’s forgettable X-Men: Apocalypse have become meaningless spectacle ... I'd rank it beside X-Men: Days of Future Past among the best X-Men entries."[233] Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com also gave the film 3.5/4 and said, "Logan has stakes that feel real, and fight choreography that’s fluid and gorgeous instead of just computer-generated effects. Most importantly, Logan has characters with which you identify and about whom you care. It's not just 'great for a superhero movie,' it's a great movie for any genre."[234] Michael Roffman of Consequence of Sound called it "A game-changing masterpiece."[235]

Mark Hughes of Forbes said that, "Logan could be first superhero movie to get best picture nomination".[236] Brian Truitt of USA Today said, "Logan is The Dark Knight of Marvel Comics. A gripping film that transcends the comic book genre."[237] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film 3.5/4, and called it "a hard-ass, R-rated rager that explodes with action".[238] Amy Nicholson of MTV called it "a phenomenal, throat-slashing, gut-stabbing superhero movie".[239] Germain Lussier of io9 said, "Logan is beautiful, sophisticated, and still a kick-ass superhero film".[240] Robert Kojder of Flickering Myth said, "It isn't just a good superhero film or a fantastic blockbuster, it's an exceptional movie period."[241]

On the other hand, Anthony Lane of The New Yorker reacted negatively, saying "If ever there was a time to hang up [Hugh Jackman]'s claws, that time is now."[242] Mara Reinstein of Us Weekly gave the film 2.5/4 and specified, in a lukewarm review, that "[T]he film loses its way during the 20-minutes-too-long journey. For all the breathless talk about how Logan transcends the superhero genre, there’s nothing groundbreaking about a road trip movie in which adults try to elude the bad guys to protect a super-special child."[243] Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave the film 2/4 and said, "Logan is deadly serious, and while its gamer-style killing sprees are meant to be excitingly brutal, I found them numbing and, in the climax, borderline offensive."[244] Stephanie Zacharek of Time magazine said, "The grim side of human nature is all over James Mangold's Logan. But that doesn't necessarily make it a good movie."[245]

Future
Since the production of the film, Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have both acknowledged their desire to have another feature film, in which Wolverine and Deadpool appear together. Writers for the Deadpool sequel had stated that despite the fact that Logan was meant to be Jackman's final appearance as Wolverine, the desire of both actors to do so adds to the potential that it would happen in a future film.[246][247][248] In February 2017, Jackman said that he had made up his mind and would not be appearing in a Deadpool sequel.[249]

Mangold stated that with the introduction of Laura Kinney / X-23 into the X-Men film universe, he would like to see the character appear in future films, and would want to be involved should that happen.[250] Simon Kinberg, producer of the X-Men film universe, later stated that the studio had plans for future movies that would be revealed soon, and that there might be another film featuring X-23 in the future.[251] During the same month, Patrick Stewart discussed his indecision regarding whether he would be willing to return as Charles Xavier following Logan, stating that he could see himself returning to the role in the untitled Deadpool sequel or the Legion TV series