Film of the week: The Wolverine

Hugh Jackman and Famke Janssen in The Wolverine. Source: Supplied

Leigh Paatsch, The Daily Telegraph, reports

FILM OF THE WEEK: Let's be frank here. With its Marvel franchise stablemate The Avengers breaking box-office records on a regular basis, the X-Men series feels a bit like yesterday's news.

Therefore another solo outing for that metal-clawed, mutton-chopped mutant Wolverine (aka Logan) is hardly the hottest ticket of the US summer blockbuster season.

Especially if Wolvie's dull origin-story movie in 2009 left you cold.

Well, it is a pleasure to report that The Wolverine is something of a return to form. Never absolutely essential, but never a waste of your precious time.

The tentative dithering of the last instalment is gone. The Wolverine means business from the get-go. The storyline has a whole new direction to navigate.

So don't go missing the first few minutes here, or you could find yourself playing catch-up for the rest of the movie.

An enjoyably over-the-top prologue finds Logan (Hugh Jackman) bracing himself for the drop of an atomic bomb at Nagasaki in 1945.

Just before the fateful moment of impact, Logan uses his self-healing superpowers to save the life of a Japanese soldier.

One mushroom cloud and many decades later, and that soldier has become the richest man in Japan. On his deathbed, the elderly industrialist Yashida (Hal Yamanouchi) wants to do one last deal.

Only Logan can deliver the goods Yashida wants to acquire. So the businessman sends a scarlet-haired, schoolgirl-outfitted emissary named Yukio (Rila Fukushima) to retrieve Logan from a self-imposed exile in the Canadian wilderness.

Freaky story, huh? Well, The Wolverine is only getting started with its weird departures from the norm.

Yashida wishes to purchase and extract Logan's immortality. Tired of the burden of everlasting life, and pining for his dead true love Jean Grey (Famke Janssen in flashback mode), Logan is tempted by the offer.

Nevertheless, he turns it down, and the old man dies. However, if Logan thinks he can leave Japan and go back to hanging out with bears in the Rockies, he is sorely mistaken.

The rest of The Wolverine? Pretty much Logan versus the Yakuza, Logan versus a gang of black-clad ninja archers, and Logan versus every freelance hitman in Japan.

Yep, it is mostly a fight movie, occasionally a chase movie, and that it is all.

Set-piece action sequences range from quite good to truly great. Though a few of the combat sequences are slightly unwieldy in their construction, a ripping five-minute scrap on the roof of a bullet train is one of the great stand-alone scenes of 2013.

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THE WOLVERINE [M]
Rating: 3/5
Director: James Mangold (Walk the Line)
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Hal Yamanouchi, Rila Fukushima, Famke Janssen
"Hell hath no furry than a Wolverine returned"

Hugh Jackman to take new movie 'The Wolverine' to fans at Comic-Con

Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine in a scene from new film The Wolverine. Picture: AP Source: AP

 

 

AP reports

Hugh Jackman is ready to sink his claws into Comic-Con again.

The 44-year-old Australian actor is returning to San Diego this week for the 44th annual Comic-Con International pop-culture convention to hype The Wolverine, his Japan-set X-Men spin-off opening July 25 that marks the actor's sixth time playing the iconic comic book character that catapulted him to stardom in 2000.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the versatile Les Miserables star talked about returning to Comic-Con to face fans enraged by 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, teaming up with the original X-Men cast for the upcoming time-bending sequel X-Men: Days of Future Past and getting naked again as Wolverine on the big screen:

AP: It took four years for The Wolverine to come to fruition. How do you feel about finally being able to show it off at Comic-Con?

Jackman: I love it. I love the title. It was actually (former director) Darren Aronofsky's idea, but it's one we - including the studio - stuck with because it sends a signal that we're not making a movie that's loaded with a lot of other mutants. You're actually gonna get to know this one. I think it's time. This story is one of the greatest, and that's the reason it's one of the fan favourites.

AP: As much as fans can be passionate at Comic-Con, they can also be equally critical. They didn't love X-Men Origins: Wolverine. How do you feel about hearing from them this week?

Jackman: I'm never afraid of that. I think the fans know I'm so grateful and very blessed to play the part. I love them. We try our hardest to get everything right, and I'm happy to hear from them. I learn from them. One of the main things I hear from fans all the time is we don't see enough of the berserker rage, and I really took that to heart because, to me, that is one of the key things I love about Logan.

AP: For everything that's different about this Wolverine film, there's once again a scene that finds Logan naked in a giant tub, even though the circumstances this time are very different from past X-Men movies. Is this something you're stipulating in your contract now?

Jackman: Look, all I say is it has to be a minimum of a minute. It's only a minute. That's all. I love a bit of nudity. It's a funny scene. The movie is darker in tone, and more restrained in a way. As long as we can get away with it, it's nice to have those fun moments. In all seriousness, no, it's not in my contract.

AP: X-Men: Days of Future Past will be your seventh time playing this character. How long do you think you can keep going as Wolverine?

Jackman: You may find it surprising to hear, but I'm loving it and feeling rejuvenated by it. For me, and I'm well aware there's way greater powers at play than me and my decision, it's more about: Do I still have something to offer to it? Is there something different we can explore? Is there a reason to tell another story? Without that, I won't do it. Secretly, I know it'd be like achieving peace in the Middle East, but I would love a way for all the Marvel characters to come together.

AP: What's it been like reuniting on Days of Future Past with everyone from the original film? You filmed it in the '90s!

Jackman: I think (original X-Men director) Bryan (Singer) really configured the image of comic book movies with that thing. Having him back is really exciting. The first month of shooting, because Patrick (Stewart) and Ian (McKellen) were off doing a play, was literally all the old actors all together. It was like a reunion, and then all of a sudden it shifted, and in came this younger ensemble of incredible actors (from X-Men: First Class). I just get to be there every day working opposite all of them.

AP: Do you ever see yourself passing on the role of Wolverine to a younger actor?

Jackman: Sure, Wolverine is like Bond. These roles are greater than I am as an actor. It will always live on and outlive me. It'll be passed on, and I'll be in the old people's home, showing my old movies and telling anyone who will listen that I was much better than whoever is playing it now. In all seriousness, it's the way it should be. I would be sad to think if I stopped playing it, Wolverine wouldn't be seen. It's too good a part.

Wolverine stunt goes wrong: Hugh Jackman 'nearly broke his neck' on set

Actor Hugh Jackman gives a thumbs-up to his fans. Picture: AP Source: AP

 

 

AAP and GQ report

Hugh Jackman has revealed he is cutting back on his movie stunts after a terrifying accident on the set of his new superhero blockbuster The Wolverine.

The Aussie star feared he had broken his neck during a daring scene in which his character swings out of a train carriage.

Jackman's injuries weren't severe, but the incident was enough to scare his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, who made him reassess the amount of dangerous work he does on set in future.

"In the film, there's a scene where I swing from inside to outside a train and my neck got caught. I thought I had broken it.

"It was one of those moments when my wife looked at me and said, 'What are you doing? Enough playing in the schoolyard! You are not invincible!'"

Jackman says he is now smarter about using a stunt double.

The 44-year-old hunk also revealed in a recent interview with GQ magazine that his famous Adamantium claws are just as dangerous in real life as they appear on screen.

"They've cut deep more than once. And not just me", he said of Wolverine's weaponry.

The Oscar-nominated actor also revealed that Robert Downey Jr reached out to him for diet tips after landing the lead role in Iron Man.

Jackman famously bulks up for his role as Wolverine and Downey Jr was keen to take advice on how to improve his physique.

"He knew I wasn't in shape before it [Wolverine], so there's a little bit of that [sharing that goes on between actors].''

Hugh Jackman says three hours a day in the gym and right food sculpted Wolverine’s body

Aussie heart-throb Hugh Jackman shows off the three hours a day he spent in the gym preparing for The Wolverine Source: Supplied

Elle Halliwell, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Hugh Jackman has revealed his sculpted body on upcoming film The Wolverine was the result of three hours of training every single day.

The Australian actor said he fit in two workout sessions a day to create his character Logan’s muscular physique in the action flick which hits cinemas later this year.

``I basically work out for three hours a day; two hours in the morning and then wherever I can in the day I fit in another hour,’’ he told fans in a live video chat yesterday [Friday].

The 44-year-old said his diet, which included supplements, low fat protein and six small meals a day was crucial to his preparation.

`` I’ll be honest with you the most important thing about the training is the eating,’’ he said.

``Seventy per cent of how you look is how you eat, and thirty per cent is the training, so that’s the more vital thing.

The film, which was shot in Japan and stars Famke Janssen and Japanese star Noburo Mori is set for release in Australia in July.

Follow Elle on Twitter @Elle_Halliwell

Picture of the month: November '12

Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay – The Wolverine



Hugh Jackman harnesses his ninja fighting skills

Hugh Jackman on the set of The Wolverine filming at Homebush Bay / Pic: Bill Hearne Source: The Daily Telegraph

Annette Sharp and Leigh Van Den Broeke, The Daily Telegraph, report

Hugh Jackman and the safety harness are old adversaries.

Two years after being injured performing a high wire stunt at the Opera House for the benefit of visiting US screen queen Oprah Winfrey, Jackman was back in his safety harness in Sydney this week to shoot scenes for his upcoming film The Wolverine.

The flying fox was not in the frame this time as Jackman transformed himself into his mutant superhero alter-ego Logan for an all-night film shoot at Homebush on Thursday.

In the aerial prop's place were cranes, to which the athletic actor was harnessed, injecting some super spring in the Wolverine's pounce for a leap on to the roof of a yellow snow plough.

While Sydney was enjoying balmy 33C temperatures, the film location, a car park at Olympic Park, was shrouded in snow - adding to the Wolverine's frustration as he encountered a band of heavily armed ninjas.

At one point, Jackman took a break from the action to have a snack - in steel claw - atop the cabin.

The $80 million Marvel film, directed by James Mangold, is in its 14th week of production.

Hugh Jackman on the set of The Wolverine filming at Homebush Bay / Pic: Bill Hearne Source: The Daily Telegraph

On the set of The Wolverine

I drove out to the Wolverine set in Sydney Olympic Park today to take some photographs of a Japanese village that was constructed on a parking lot for the shoot. Considering it was a hot day out west (34-36 Celsius, 93-96 Fahrenheit), it felt surreal staring at snowy rooftops and icicles.

The construction team did an awesome job putting together the facades, fake trees, telephone poles and artificial snow. Under certain angles, the set felt very real. Hugh Jackman wasn’t there as filming for this particular part of the movie - “the ninja fight” - takes place at night.

The Wolverine shoot in Sydney Olympic Park wraps tomorrow, so you’ve still got time to take a peek… The location is off Hill Road, on parking lot 5, just before you reach Holker Street.

The following shots were taken this afternoon. I hope to have captured the feel of the wintery landscape on some of the pics. Apologies for the bland ones (movie sets look like nothing viewed from the back)… Cheers, Luke

 

  Sydney Olympic Park, P5 

The Japanese village from a distance

Snowy rooftops, fake telephone poles and trees

Same but from the side 

 

 

Close-up of snowy rooftops and icicles

 

Lighting equipment behind the facades

 

Looks pretty real, eh?

 

...especially close-up!

 

But not from the side. This brings new meaning to "carpet" of snow

 

Cars used for the shoot

 

Intriguing writing on the windows "♥ Maddy"... Must be Japanese dialect... LOL

 

Catering tent and trailers

Wolverine will discover his Kryptonite, says Hugh Jackman as Fox pops new teaser poster

Picture: 20th Century Fox

The Daily Telegraph reports

Hugh Jackman has comes as close as he ever will to conceding that the last Wolverine movie was a dud.

In an online Q&A with fans, Jackman said his new Wolvie movie was the Wolvie movie he always wanted to make.

"This movie is called The Wolverine, we really wanted this movie, better than any before, to encapsulate that character. You’re going to see every side to him. There’s going to be some surprises in there too. You have to see him lower, more desperate, more at stake than ever before.

"Finally, physically, what is on film is what I had in my head. This is not a vanity thing. It’s important that that rage inside is seen in his body. I wanted to see veins, I wanted him to be animalistic."

The last time Jackman popped the claws, comic fans and movie-goers were less than impressed. X-Men Origins: Wolverine suffered from a patchy script and disjointed, over-the-top action scenes and its box office was down on previous entries in the X-Men saga.

The Wolverine, which is almost finished shooting in Sydney, is based on the celebrated Chris Claremont-Frank Miller comic series from 1980s and finds Wolverine caught in a gang war in Tokyo.

Director James Mangold, who sat in on the Q&A, said he didn't want to make just another superhero / action movie. "We don’t want to succumb to what has been going on for years now which is sort of an arms race of action movies where they try to out do in terms of spectacle. Music can only get so loud," he said.

Mangold also scotched rumours that The Wolverine would be another prequel.

"This film (takes place) after the X-Men movies and finds Logan at a point where the X-Men are gone. A lot of the ties he had to the world are gone. Almost every intimate connection he had to the world is either destroyed or broken."

He told fans that the film would explore "what it's like to live essentially forever, to keep losing the ones you love", although Jackman teased that his character's immortality would be tested: "Actually, in this movie, how do we put it? Let’s say, he discovers his Kryptonite."

The Q&A came as the teaser poster made its debut online.

It's snowing at Homebush for Hugh Jackman on the set of his new Wolverine flick

The set of The Wolverine / Pic: Adam Taylor Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

The countdown is on for the completion of The Wolverine, with the crew working around the clock on the Sydney set to get the $100 million-plus movie across the finish line.

Shooting is scheduled to wrap in Sydney in the coming weeks for the X-Men spin-off and an all-nighter on Wednesday ensured at least one major action sequence was in the can.

The film's star Hugh Jackman was captured walking around the elaborate set, which was constructed inside a carpark in Homebush to look like a snowy village in Japan - where most of the film is based.

The 44-year-old Tony Award winner is reprising his role as clawed amnesiac Logan, however this week it seemed to be his stuntman who was working overtime.

Jackman was seen observing the scene - involving a team of ninjas - but did not appear to be in character.

Principal photography kicked off in Kurnell in July and quickly moved southwest to Picton, which was transformed into a Canadian town.

Production was then shipped to Tokyo and Hiroshima before returning to Oz, with Parramatta recently doubling as a Japanese city.

A sequel to 2009's X-Men Origins:Wolverine, Jackman has promised this movie will right the wrongs of its predecessor.

While commercially successful - it took $375 million worldwide - there was a huge fan backlash about the plot and the overuse of mutant characters.

The next instalment is said to be a more human story, set against a backdrop of WWII.

It's due to be released next July.

Hugh Jackman on the set of The Wolverine / Pic: Adam Taylor Source: The Daily Telegraph

Parra turns Japanese, with all eyes on Jackman

Lights, camera, action … above, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine rescues a girl. Photo: Mick Tsikas

Sarah Whyte, The Sydney Morning Herald, reports

Four blocks of Parramatta's city centre were transformed into a downtown Japanese city as Hugh Jackman was spotted filming for the action movie The Wolverine yesterday.

No props were spared in yesterday's filming to make sure Parramatta appeared truly Japanese, including signs on bus stops, street signs, corporate logos on buildings, Japanese car number plates and plenty of Japanese extras.

Crowds of interested onlookers gathered on the corners of Smith and George streets to try to catch a glimpse of lead actor Jackman.

Although if you blinked, it was easy to miss the superhero. Jackman had a stunt double regularly trading places with him as his crew organised lighting.

Celebrity spotters told The Sun-Herald Jackman was usually seen with two stunt doubles on set. When the heartthrob was spotted, he was dressed in black, sporting a Wolverine beard and playing the hero as he rescued a Japanese actress.

But fans will have to wait until July 25 next year to catch all the action on the big screen.

In the sixth instalment of the X-Men film series and the stand-alone sequel to the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the character Wolverine travels to Japan to train with a samurai warrior.

Since Superman Returns in late 2005, the Wolverine series has been one of the only big-budget live-action movies to shoot in Australia.

 

On the set ... Hugh Jackman. Photo: Mick Tsikas

That's a lot of veins: First look at Hugh Jackman in The Wolverine

Warrior soul: Jackman heads to Japan for The Wolverine. Picture: 20th Century Fox

News.com.au reports

The man with the claws is back.

The first official photo of The Wolverine made its debut today, with Hugh Jackman's ripped physique and pulsing veins front and centre.

The Wolverine is based on the celebrated Chris Claremont-Frank Miller comic series from 1980s and, according to the official synopsis, finds "Logan, the eternal warrior and outsider, in Japan. There, samurai steel will clash with adamantium claw, as Logan confronts a mysterious figure from his past in an epic battle that will leave him forever changed."

Beyond showing fans that Jackman's commitment to the role is total - the exercise regime behind that body must be frightening - the picture doesn't reveal any plot details.

What it does do is give the flagging Wolverine franchise a shot in the arm.

Reaction to Jackman's last outing as the clawed mutant, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, was mostly negative, and the film's box office was down on previous entries in the X-Men saga.

The Wolverine is set to be a stand-alone film and won't feature other characters from the X-Men films.

The photo is all attitude and has a real Bruce Lee/Enter the Dragon feel about it.

Jackman is a fan the Claremont-Miller comic series, which is widely praised for giving the character real depth.

"I love the idea of this kind of anarchic character, the outsider, being in this world full of honour and tradition and customs," Jackman said earlier this year.

"The idea of the samurai too, and the tradition there - it's really great. In the comic book he gets his ass kicked by a couple of samurai - not even mutants."

Claremont said that his comic series envisaged Wolverine as a failed samurai. "Frank (Miller) didn't want to do four issues of punching and hitting and neither did I," he told The Times when X-Men: Origins came out.

"I wanted to get into who he was. My idea of Wolverine was that if you walked into his room half of it would be a total trash heap, a sloppy couch and more beer cans than you can imagine, and half would be the quintessence of economy and grace - a stand for his sword and maybe a picture on a table. Wolverine is essentially at war with himself. There’s a part of him that wants to be this pure, pristine man of honour and there’s a part of him that wants to say, ‘F*** this’ and hit the bars."

Shooting on the superhero film is taking place at Sydney's Fox Studio.

The plan had been to film The Wolverine in Japan last year but the devastation from the tsunami and quake put those plans on hold, pushing back the production schedule.

The film also lost its original director, Darren Aronofsky, who pulled out because he didn't want to be away from his family for a long period of time.

The new director James Mangold, although not as creative as Aronofsky, is a safe set of hands. 20th Century Fox, which is producing the film, had major problems with the director of X-Men Origins.

Production on that film lagged behind schedule because of director Gavin Hood's inexperience with big budget movies and the producers had to bring in Superman director Richard Donner to help finish the movie.

The Wolverine comes out next year.

Spot the similarities: Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon. Picture: 20th Century Fox

Hugh Jackman's hairy Wolverine debut

NEWS: Hugh Jackman on set of latest film Wolverine with his son Oscar at the Hopetoun Hotel in Surry Hills. Source: Supplied

News.com.au reports

A hairy Hugh Jackman was snapped walking through Sydney's Surry Hills with his son Oscar.

The Aussie actor is back on home ground filming the latest installment of The Wolverine franchise. The 43-year-old looked every bit the buff Hollywood star as he filmed action scenes in a cut off sweater.

Hugh has relocated his entire family to Sydney for the duration of the shoot. Wife Deborra, son Oscar and daughter Ava are no doubt happy with their new temporary home in the affluent suburb of Woollahra.

While his new facial hair may be meant to scare foes in the film, Hugh made every effort to smile and wave to fans while on set.

More pictures from The Wolverine set

Hugh Jackman and crew were spotted in Picton filming the latest Wolverine film in a fake snow filled town. Pictures by Adam Taylor

Hugh Jackman fronts Wolverine set to establish pec in order

Secret shots of Hugh Jackman on set of his latest movie Wolverine at Kurnell, Sydney. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: The Daily Telegraph

James Wigney, The Daily Telegraph, reports

A buff and bare-chested Hugh Jackman made his first appearance on the Sydney set of The Wolverine yesterday, four days into filming of the $80 million blockbuster.

He showed off his well-sculpted pecs as cameras rolled in the prison camp that has sprung up on the shores at Kurnell.

Despite filming being well underway, the actress set to play Viper in the flick is yet to materialise, with a production rep confirming yesterday that nothing had been finalised.

It's widely reported that the physical role has been handed to Russian actress Svetlana Khodchenkova after Jessica Biel dropped out of talks.

The film - which received a cash injection of $12.8 million from the federal government - is the sequel to the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine that launched Jackman into global superstardom in the lead role as the sharp-clawed mutant.

But it isn't the only film that has seen Jackman in the role of a tall, hairy, grumpy character with claws that is bestowed with special powers he reluctantly uses for good.

A preview yesterday of animated film Rise of the Guardians from Dreamworks - the makers of Shrek and Kung Fu Panda - has revealed the actor's newest alter-ego - the Easter Bunny.

Jackman turns the lovable egg-bearing legend into a smart-mouthed, boomerang-throwing action hero.

While Jackman put on a British accent for Roddy the Rat in Flushed Away and an Elvis-style American accent as a penguin in Happy Feet, it is the first time since Baz Luhrmann's Australia that he's used his native tongue on screen.

He manages to unleash lines that would put Alf Stewart to shame, including "underdacks", "rack off" and "ratbag", that are sure to leave international audiences slightly baffled.

Hugh Jackman on the set of his latest movie, The Wolverine at Kurnell, Sydney. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: The Daily Telegraph

Hugh Jackman 'pumped' on day one of Wolverine filming

Gym sesh: Hugh Jackman in Bondi before the filming of The Wolverine starts. Picture: John Grainger Source: Supplied

News.com.au reports

Hugh Jackman is feeling "so pumped" on the first day of shooting the new Wolverine film.

The Aussie actor informed his Twitter followers late yesterday that filming for The Wolverine has kicked off in Sydney.

"we're on day 1 of shooting…..wolverine is back…feel so pumped about this one……never felt so ready!!!! will keep y'all posted!!! (sic)," he shared on the social networking site.

Jackman is reprising his role as the iconic Marvel comic superhero for the upcoming sequel to 2009's much-loved X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

The 43-year-old star is famed for his muscular physique and trains hard to bulk up to portray the mutant with enhanced physical capabilities.

He shared his new diet on his Twitter page - posting a picture of green beans and plain cooked chicken.

"and you know what that means.... the wolverine diet!! this was meal 2 at 9am this morning (sic)," he wrote.

Hugh is on a mission to look even bigger than he did in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine this time round. He has been eating 6,000 calories a day after he was asked to bulk up for the role.

Production got underway for The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman at Kurnell on the shores of Botany Bay yesterday. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: Supplied

Hollywood and Australian politics collide on Wolverine set

Julia Gillard and Hugh Jackman this morning.

Garry Maddox, The Sydney Morning Herald, reports

As he prepares to shoot a new comic book movie in Sydney, Hugh Jackman has joined the movie world's dismay over the Colorado shootings during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises.

"All I can echo is just the sorrow I feel for the families, for the community, for everybody," he said from the set of The Wolverine. "It's an issue that goes obviously way beyond acting, beyond film, beyond anything like that.

"This is just a tragedy on a level that we have experienced in Australia many years ago, in Tasmania, and it's just devestating."

Jackman was talking at Fox Studios during a visit by the prime minister, Julia Gillard, to the set of the superhero movie that starts shooting in a week.

Ms Gillard said the federal government had contributed $12.8 million to secure the shoot for Australia and create more than 2000 jobs. The movie had been scheduled to shoot in Japan until last year's earthquake and tsunami.

Jackman, who previously shot X-Men Origins: Wolverine in Sydney, said the new movie would bring more than $80 million to the country and keep industry skills at a world class level.

He described Wolverine, the character he first played in 2000's X-Men as a late replacement for Dougray Scott, as the backbone of his career.

"I still love the character," he said. "I had no choice at the time - I was going to take anything that came along - but I happen to have walked into probably the most interesting and complex of the superhero characters."

Director James Mangold, whose movies have included Kate & Leopold with Jackman and Walk The Line, said the movie was based on a series of comic books about Wolverine's journey to Japan.

"It speaks to the incredible craftsmanship [here] that we can make so much of Japan - feudal Japan, urban Japan, sets - all here on our soundstages in Australia," he said.

Jessica Biel pulls out of Hugh Jackman's The Wolverine with filming to begin in Sydney next week

Pulled out of talks to be female lead ... Hollywood actress Jessica Biel is no longer in 'The Wolverine'. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph reports

Hugh Jackman is yet to find his female lead for the upcoming sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine - despite filming due to begin at Sydney's Fox Studios next week.

Jessica Biel, who is starring in the remake Total Recall, reportedly turned down the role after all but agreeing to play Viper in the Marvel franchise flick, according to US reports.

However, talks with director James Mangold are said to have dissolved recently, leaving Biel out and the role unfilled.

The setback comes just one week out from the start of filming and a few days out from an official press conference slated for Tuesday where Jackman and Prime Minister Julia Gillard will herald the beginning of shooting on the $80 million blockbuster.

"Obviously the director would like to fill that role as soon as possible given the film starts shooting in a week," said a source close to the flick.

"At this stage they're very close to a deal with a new actress."

It's understood a non-American actress - with a slightly lower profile than Biel - is now the frontrunner, raising the possibility a local actress will fill the role.

Biel's exit from the project came as somewhat of a surprise to those surrounding the project, with Justin Timberlake's fiance widely tipped as a certainty for the physical part.

Asked recently at the annual Comic-Con event in San Diego if she had signed on for the flick, Biel said: "That's not totally true. It's a little too early to say."

There was a similar turn of events in 2007, when Biel was in lengthy talks with Warner Bros to play the superhero Wonder Woman in a Justice League of America movie.

Hugh Jackman into hard work for his return as Wolverine

Hot stuff: Actor Hugh Jackman is seen taking a swim at Bondi Beach after a heavy gym workout. Picture: Snapper Media Source: Supplied

The Daily Telegraph reports

Looking every inch worthy of his Marvel Comics hero status, Hugh Jackman returned to his proven Bondi workout routine yesterday to ensure the success of his latest Wolverine film.

The actor flew into Sydney on Saturday with his family and has wasted no time returning to the gym.

The star arranged a pre-dawn session pumping weights at Bondi Beach Fitness and Health, and followed it up with a brisk winter cardio session in the surf.

Fresh from shooting musical drama Les Miserables in the UK, the star has gone straight back to the gruelling fitness schedule that builds 10kg of muscle and transforms him into what his fitness trainer calls his "masterpiece".

Jackman's personal trainer of 20 years, Australian Mike Ryan, said the 43-year-old actor was "very, very skinny" when they first met by chance at a Sydney gym in 1989. Ryan now travels the world with Jackman keeping him in shape.

"He just keeps getting better and better over the years," Ryan has said.

"We've got a bet to see if we can both get to 50 and still have a six-pack."

Ryan says crack-of-dawn 90-minute workout sessions work best for the hunky father of two.

"We have a philosophy of training first thing in the morning," Ryan said.

Research suggests that people who train in the afternoons consistently do workouts of far less intensity than those who do train in the morning.

"When Hugh has a 6am filming start, that means we'll be in the gym by 4am," Ryan added.

The new film goes into production at Fox Studios next week and Hollywood hot property Jessica Biel is expected to arrive in Sydney shortly to join Jackman to play the evil villainess Viper.