Hugh Jackman ignited the hopes of many Marvel fans after a seemingly casual post to his Instagram Stories.
Superhero buffs started thinking the Australian actor was getting ready to reprise his role as Wolverine as he shared a photo posing with Marvel boss Kevin Feige.
He also shared a shot of the character’s signature claws from an artist-made poster design.
Fan frenzy: Hugh Jackman, 52, sparked speculation that he reprise his role as Wolverine/Logan for a new Marvel project by posting a photo of himself with Marvel boss Kevin Feige
The art was designed by famed Australian graphic design artist Kode Abdo, otherwise known as Boss Logic, and did not appear to be officially commissioned by Marvel.
But that didn’t stop fans from getting optimistic.
Comments like ‘alright!!!’ and ‘don’t give me hope !!’ summed up what many people were thinking when they got a first look at Jackman’s post.
Someone else wrote, ‘we need another film hahaha @thehughjackman’, while a couple of apprehensive fans added, ‘Don’t do that, don’t give me hope’ and ‘Why he playing with us.’
One person speculated about the ‘III’ in the caption with the question: ‘Deadpool 3?’
There was also a fan who looked at the decision Marvel would have to make if and when Wolverine makes a triumphant return: ‘A new Wolverine reveal? The amazing Hugh Jackman possibly making a return??!!!’
Making history: Jackman holds the Guinness World Record for ‘longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero’ by playing the character in the X-Men film series from 2000 through 2017; he is pictured in a scene from X-Men (2000)
Sharp: Australian graphic design artist Kode Abdo, or Boss Logic created the art which the Aussie actor riled up fans with
Iconic: Jackman last stepped into the shoes and claws of Wolverine in the superhero film Logan (2017) four years ago; he’s pictured in feature film
Jackman last stepped into the shoes and claws of Wolverine in Logan (2017) four years ago.
Afterwards, the 52-year-old actor told press that he thought he would be back as Wolverine in an Avengers movie.
‘Every time I saw an Avengers movie, I could just see Wolverine in the middle of all of them like punching them all on the head. But it was like, “Oh well, that’s not gonna happen,”‘ he said at the time.
‘I think, unfortunately, the ship has sailed for me, but for someone else I would like to see Wolverine in there,’ he added.
Jackman holds the Guinness World Record for ‘longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero’ by playing the character, beginning with the X-Men film, from 2000 through 2017.
Fuel to the fire: In the last few years, Jackman went public and told reporters that he would sharpen his Wolverine claws for an Avengers movie; actor is pictured in Australia last week