Russell Crowe Refused to Play Wolverine Turning Down Potential $100 Million and Recommended Hugh Jackman

 Hugh Jackman owes a lot to his role as Wolverine, which catapulted him to global fame and fortune. However, it may come as a surprise to fans that he was not the first choice for the role in X-Men (2000). The actor who was originally approached for the part ended up collaborating with Jackman in a high-profile MCU movie last year alongside Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman.

In an interview on the Happy Sad and Confused podcast shared on his Instagram, Jackman thanked Russell Crowe for recommending him for the role of Wolverine. Crowe revealed that he suggested Jackman for the role after seeing concept art for the character, saying, "it looks like Hugh Jackman." This was not the only time that Crowe helped Jackman in his career, as he also recommended him for a role in Baz Luhrmann's Australia.

Crowe's willingness to recommend other actors for roles and turn down parts himself has apparently been a huge reason why he still loves his job. Jackman initially wanted to retire from playing Wolverine after Logan (2017), but changed his mind when he realized how much fun he would have playing the character in a Deadpool film. Deadpool 3 is set to be released on November 8, 2024, and fans are eagerly anticipating Jackman's entry into the MCU. Whether he will continue to play the character in other Marvel projects remains to be seen.