An origins story that follows the early life of James Howlett (Jackman), also known as Logan, and best known as Wolverine. The chronicle of his younger years as a mutant connects to his relationship and eventual falling out with Victor Creed/Sabretooth (Schreiber), and his fateful entry into the Weapons X project, the governmental program that turns willing and unwilling beings into living weapons.

Media-friendly producer Lauren Shuler Donner was the first person to promise a bleak look into James Howlett’s backstory (call it Dark Knight effect), but when that didn’t gel with initial reports that Fox wants/wanted a more PG-13 take on their first X-Men spin-off, it seemed like everyone involved with the production stepped up to let fans know everything was (mostly) copacetic on set and in the editing suite. Latest reports indicate director Gavin Hood is “90% pleased” with the final results. And what about the rumors of Ryan Reynolds’s Deadpool project being in development? I doubt it’s an overstatement, and Reynold’s definitely pushing for it.

Director: Gavin Hood
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds
Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Release Date: 1 May 2009 (USA)
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch reluctantly pacts with a stock-man in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot. As the pair drive 2,000 head of cattle over unforgiving landscape, they experience the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces firsthand.

Originally Russell Crowe was set to star opposite Kidman in this paean to the antipodean outback, but everyone’s favorite bad boy balked at the salary, stating, “I don’t do charity work for major studios.” Charming or surly? In stepped Wolverine to help Mrs. Keith Urban herd cattle, and while we couldn’t be happier that Jackman and Kidman will play dueling cheekbones, the combination of dust, sweat, and livestock seems a far cry from Luhrmann’s usually spangled-and-sumptuous milieu. This better deliver more than cattle or you’re looking at the Australian Atonement come Oscar time.

An Update, with an Even Cattier Quote: In response to reports that Fox pressured Luhrmann to go with a more-uplifting ending than the one screened to test audiences, the director had this to say: “You really think that on my films people tell me what to do? I don’t think so — on my films I decide.” Additionally, Luhrmann said it will be a surprise as to which of the three endings he shot will end up attached to the final print.