Voice of ’90s Animated Wolverine Talks Hugh Jackman’s Departure

Logan is an emotional end to the Wolverine trilogy in more ways than one, since the film also constitutes X-Men movie franchise star Hugh Jackman’s final performance in the Wolverine solo movie series. As Jackman ends his run on a truly high (and profitable) note, many fans, colleagues and Marvel Comics veterans are all sharing their fond farewells and well-wishes.

The latest person to talk about Jackman’s departure from the Logan role is someone who knows that process all too well: Cal Dodd, the voice actor who played Wolverine on X-Men: The Animated Series in the ’90s.

Speaking with Heat Vision, Dodd described the end of his run voicing Wolverine as being somewhat traumatic:

“It was a huge gap in my life. I was doing it for five years and I became him. I created this guy, I created this voice. It was so a part of me that it was unbelievable. I just bought the whole five year series and I’m started to watch it bit by bit. It’s so good. It was like losing my right arm. I loved the guy. Because it was like me. He was like a brother.”

Ironically, Dodd had no idea who Wolverine was when he read for the part; working with show producers, he came up with a voice that was a combination of, “Steve McQueen, because he’s very introspective and very quiet and kind of a loner.” And Ward Bond, who is from the ’30s and ’40s and stuff, from Wagon Train, and they said Clint Eastwood.”

Even though Dodd was the quintessential Wolverine for the ’90s, as the X-Men animated series change for the 2000s (along with the rise of the film franchise), he ultimately got left behind as the Wolverine character changed hands.

As for the moment when animated Wolverine saw live-action Wolverine for the first time, Dodd says, “I love Hugh Jackman. I met him before he was going to shoot the first movie… he just came up to me and he joked, “I’m really tired of listening to your voice!” Because he had no other reference for a Wolverine but the animated series. So he had to listen to the voice to try to emulate that, or that sort of feel of him and the character. He said, “It’s a great voice. I don’t know if I’ll be able to nail it or not but, I’ll give it whirl.”

And as for what Jackman is going through now, saying goodbye to the role? According to Dodd, “I loved Hugh. 17 years he’s been doing it. Good lord. He’ll never forget the role. You can’t. that’s a huge a part of his life.“

In Logan, in the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

Logan is 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.

Logan is now playing in theaters.

More Logan:

• Concept Art Reveals Wolverine’s Dog
• How The Emotional Ending Was Filmed
• Why The Westchester Incident Wasn’t Shown In Logan
• Director Defends Loose Ends

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