Hugh Jackman In Negotiations To Star In Lionsgate ‘The Odyssey’ With ‘Hunger Games’ Director

Hugh Jackman is in negotiations with Lionsgate to star in a movie adaption of Homer’s “The Odyssey.”

The “Wolverine” actor’s representative has confirmed to The Wrap that Jackman is in early talks with the studio to join the project. Jackman’s representative said, “This is a conversation at this point. Very early stages and nothing is confirmed.”

Francis Lawrence, who directed the “Hunger Games” movies, is set to helm “The Odyssey.” Should the actor accept the project, Jackman will play Odysseus, the film’s hero, who goes on a long voyage heading back home after the end of the Trojan War.

Aside from “The Odyssey,” Jackman also has several movie projects lined up, including Joe Wright’s “Pan,” where he plays Blackbeard. He also recently wrapped up Dexter Fletcher’s ski jumper movie “Eddie the Eagle” and is set to reprise his Marvel superhero role for the final “Wolverine” movie.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Jackman previously teased fans with a few details for the Marvel movie that might be added to director James Mangold’s sequel. During a Sydney Confidential podcast earlier this week, the Australian star mentioned two of the most popular suggestions he received from “Wolverine” fans.

The first was a clamor to bring Victor Creed, better known as Sabretooth, back to the sequel. The Marvel villain appeared in the “X-Men” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” movies and was played by Tyler Mane and Liev Schreiber, respectively.

The second suggestion called for Wolverine’s “berserker rage” to be featured in the film. This is something that previous “Wolverine” or “X-Men” movies have yet to show, wherein the animalistic side of the Marvel mutant takes over the character, which then leaves a violent and mindless creature that is dangerous to everybody, be it friend or foe.

Jackman’s latest “Wolverine” sequel is scheduled for a 2017 release, while “Pan” is set to hit theaters in early October.