Ryan Reynolds suggests Wolverine as a honey badger in X-Men, sharing his thoughts in a recent interview where he imagined the popular character with new inspiration. The conversation took place amid the promotion of Underdogs, a Nat Geo series Reynolds narrates and executive produces, which spotlights often-overlooked animals from the lower end of the food chain.
Reynolds Pitches Honey Badger Qualities for X-Men’s Wolverine
During his interview with IGN, Reynolds humorously questioned Marvel’s decision-making when they first created the mutant known as Wolverine. He pointed out that the real-life wolverine belongs to the weasel family, a detail some might overlook. Reynolds highlighted the honey badger as an animal equally deserving of being considered for the famous X-Men lineup, emphasizing its reputation for extraordinary endurance and toughness.
“They certainly captured the weasel family, the wolverine being among the largest of the weasel family,”
—Ryan Reynolds, Actor and Executive Producer
Drawing on his knowledge from narrating Underdogs, Reynolds went on to explain that honey badgers possess an almost undefeatable resilience, likening this quality to the invincibility often associated with the Marvel character.
“But I feel like you could have just as easily gone with a honey badger as one of the primary X-Men. Honey badgers are unkillable. These are very tough creatures. You can just really do a lot of damage to one of them and it will keep getting up,”
—Ryan Reynolds, Actor and Executive Producer
Imagining Hugh Jackman as a Honey Badger in Future Marvel Projects
The conversation took a playful turn as Reynolds suggested he would not mind if Hugh Jackman, who is well known for his portrayal as Wolverine since the 2000 film X-Men, tried something different. Referencing Marvel’s creative freedom, Reynolds mused about Jackman embodying the spirit of a honey badger in future appearances.
“I’m not entirely in charge of how the universe unfolds at Marvel, [but] I wouldn’t mind Hugh switching things up and just going with straight-up honey badger next time.”
—Ryan Reynolds, Actor and Executive Producer
Humor and History Connect Wolverine and Jackman
Reynolds also added a dose of humor while describing a scene from Underdogs, where a wolverine briefly appears, and he jokes about its name coming from an ‘antiquated Canadian word’ that means ‘boring millionaire.’ Although the outlet inquired whether Hugh Jackman responded to this joke, Reynolds did not offer a reply.
The character of Wolverine was initially created by writer Len Wein alongside Marvel art director John Romita Sr., making his first comic book cameo in The Incredible Hulk #180 before fully debuting in issue #181 back in 1974. Hugh Jackman first brought the character to life for movie audiences in 2000’s X-Men, a role that cemented his association with the popular mutant superhero.
Considering Animal Inspiration in Marvel’s Ongoing Universe
By linking Wolverine to the characteristics of a honey badger, Ryan Reynolds has sparked fresh conversations around the character’s origins, endurance, and representation in both comics and film. With Reynolds’s continued involvement in projects like Underdogs and the evolving Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans may continue to imagine creative re-interpretations of iconic heroes like Wolverine, possibly influencing how such characters are seen in future stories.
