Hugh Jackman Was Asked To Play James Bond: Here's Why He Turned It Down

Hugh Jackman almost played 007.

During a recent interview with Indiewire, the 54-year-old "X-Men" alum revealed that he was offered the role of James Bond thanks to the popularity he gained playing Wolverine. However, he said he turned it down because he believed he wouldn't have time to explore other acting roles in Hollywood.

"I had a look at it," Jackman told the outlet of the Bond offer. "I was like, 'If I'm doing that and Wolverine, I'll have no time to do anything else.' I clearly find it more interesting to play people who color outside the lines."

During his early days playing the brooding mutant Wolverine, the actor said he felt "frustrated" by the "hero action star" roles offered to him because he "didn't want to do the same things."

"I mean, it was the meat-and-potatoes of a lot of American film, that archetype. It was all various forms of heroic guys in tough situations," Jackman told the outlet. "I was like, 'Uh, no. This is a problem.'"

Jackman's iconic Wolverine dominated his career since he appeared in the first "X-Men" movie more than 20 years ago, but the actor had more to give and attempted to steer away from the "hero archetype" by creating another persona in Hollywood as a song-and-dance man, according to Indiewire.

Although he adores his "X-Men" character, which he's playing for the 10th time in the upcoming "Deadpool 3," Jackman clarified that he was nothing like the mutant.

"Spend five minutes with me and you'll know that couldn't be further from who I am," he said.

The veteran actor has starred in various musical films, including "Les Misérables" in 2012 and "The Greatest Showman" in 2017, and in musical productions such as 2013's "The Boy From Oz" and the hit new Broadway production, "The Music Man."

Most recently, Jackman starred in the melodrama "The Son" as Peter Miller, a divorced parent struggling to handle an emotionally distressed teen. The film is a prequel to director Florian Zeller's Oscar-winning "The Father," which was released in 2020. In addition to Jackman, the cast also includes Laura Dern, Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Kirby and Zen McGrath.

In his Indiewire interview, Jackman shared that he has "much more" in common with his character Peter as a parent of two adopted children, 22-year-old Oscar and 17-year-old Ava, with wife Deborra-Lee Furness.

"This role brought up mistakes I made and regrets that I have," he explained. "I think one of the great messages of the movie is that love isn't always enough. When you go into raising a kid with a little more humility and understanding, you probably come in with fresher eyes. You understand your own upbringing and predilections as a parent."

Song Pictures Classic released "The Son" for a one-week qualify run at select theaters in Los Angeles and New York, Sony Pictures executive vice president of destruction and sales Tom Prassis said in a statement.

"The Son" will officially premiere in movie theaters nationwide starting Jan. 20, 2023.