X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
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A man with a deadly past and a metal-reinforced skeleton must confront his past and a ruthless organization seeking to weaponize his abilities.
The story
In 1845, James Howlett witnesses his father's murder, triggering a mutation that grants him bone claws. He flees with his half-brother, Victor Creed, and the two spend decades as soldiers in various conflicts. After being sentenced to death, they are recruited into Team X by Major William Stryker. Years later, while living in hiding, Logan is targeted by the ruthless Victor. To gain the strength needed to defeat his brother, Logan undergoes a painful procedure to bond his skeleton with adamantium. However, the process leaves him a weapon for Stryker, forcing him to go on the run to reclaim his identity and confront the forces that sought to control him.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows the life of James Howlett, who in 1845 discovers his mutation after his father's death. He and his half-brother, Victor Creed, become soldiers and are eventually recruited into Team X by Major William Stryker. After a falling out with the team, Logan lives in isolation until Victor resurfaces. To defeat his brother, Logan undergoes a procedure to bond his skeleton with adamantium, a process intended to turn him into a mindless weapon for Stryker. After escaping the facility, Logan teams up with others, including Remy LeBeau, to infiltrate Stryker's facility on Three Mile Island. There, he faces off against Weapon XI, a mutant-hybrid created by Stryker. During the final battle, Logan's lover, Kayla Silverfox, is mortally wounded while leading others to safety. Logan eventually defeats Weapon XI but is shot by Stryker, losing his memory and becoming the man known as Wolverine. The film concludes with a choice of endings: one showing Logan in a Japanese bar and another showing the remains of Weapon XI.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Gavin Hood
- Writers
- David Benioff · screenplay; Skip Woods · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Hugh Jackman · Logan / Wolverine; Liev Schreiber · Victor Creed; Danny Huston · William Stryker; Dominic Monaghan · Chris Bradley; Ryan Reynolds · Wade Wilson; will.i.am · John Wraith; Lynn Collins · Kayla Silverfox; Taylor Kitsch · Remy LeBeau
- Genres
- superhero; action
- Themes
- inner struggle; identity; nature vs. nurture
- Tone and mood
- dark; brutal
- Setting
- Various locations including the Northwest Territories (1845), the American Civil War, World Wars, Vietnam, Canada (1979), Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Three Mile Island.
- Premise and plot tags
- origin story; prequel; spin-off
- Source material / true-story basis
- Marvel Comics
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a financial success at the box office.
- Awards and nominations
- Teen Choice Award · winning films · win
- Production trivia
- The film features multiple 'secret endings' that vary between versions.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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