Hugh Jackman: All Things Wolverine!

You know Hugh. He's that sexiest guy alive who is a true Renaissance Man. This gorgeous Aussie acts, sings, dances, hosts the Oscars and now, produces films. Hugh dons the claws again as Wolverine as he produces the first of the Marvel origin films X-Men Origins Wolverine. In the film, "Wolvie" is full of furry fury as he grows up James; a mutant boy with bone-like claws that extend and a berserker rage that emerges when he's pissed off. His bro Victor (Liev Schreiber) is the bloodlusty, catlike Sabretooth and the two have a lifetime love/hate relationship that is destined to bring tragedy to both lives. Wolverine's hot love affair with beautiful teacher Kayla (Lynn Collins) launches the adult James toward his full emergence as the vengeance-wracked, metal-clawed X-Man.

We sat down with the ever-charming Hugh at the 20th Century Fox studios in L.A. and got the scoop on why he took on the task of producing this huge project, what it was like to return to the role that basically launched his film career, his on set memories, feelings about his beautiful co-star and how does he stay in such super physical shape? Would you believe by swinging on a trapeze? Hugh is lookin' extra hot in form-fitting dark blue polo shirt and dark pants...

TeenHollywood: Can you talk about reinterpreting Wolverine and making him a little bit different from the Wolverine character that the fans got to know in the previous X-Men movies?

Hugh: [With these movies,] about every third day, for the rest of your life, you hear a critique about how you played the part, what you should have done differently, and what you can do the next time, if you ever get a shot at it. I knew exactly what fans wanted, and not just the comic book fans, but fans of the movie. It's fair to say that, by X-Men 3, Wolverine had gone a little soft, and I agree with them there.

TeenHollywood: How so?

Hugh: What fans love about Wolverine is his more uncompromising approach to life. He is who he is. He's not always a nice guy. He has got edge. He's an anti-hero. And, there's also a vulnerability in there. There is conflict and battles going on in there. With Gavin [Hood, the film's director] and the other actors, I had the chance to explore that more. I wanted the film to feel different. Gavin and I talked a lot about the aesthetic and tone of it. It's a little darker, a little rawer, a little tougher and, hopefully, maybe even a little more human. That's really what has appealed to me about the comic book. And, no more black leather suits [laughs].

TeenHollywood: How protective do you feel about this movie versus the other X-Men movies, since this is really you, front and center?

Hugh: Every role I do has no less effort or desire. Every film has that sense for me, as an actor. But, obviously, this movie has a different dimension, as a producer. Particularly, I found myself asking the cast what they thought of the movie, and I was nervous about it. In that way, I feel it's more personal to me. It's more my baby. I asked all these actors and Gavin Hood, the director, to come on board, so obviously I'm more attached to it. It feels more personal. That's the difference.

TeenHollywood: Hugh, this is your fourth time playing this same character. What is new for you about Wolverine this time?

Hugh: Everything felt new to me. It took me a little while to get over the fact that Halle Berry wasn't on set, most days. Sorry, I jest. Yes, I'm playing the same character, but I'm filling in approximately 100 years of his life, that had never been explored before so, it was a chance to reveal that. I wanted to see him evolve. You see him, at the very beginning, as a little kid, very unlike how you would imagine Wolverine to be, as a young boy. That was a wonderful young actor. And, to watch him evolve was fantastic.

TeenHollywood: You chose director Gavin Hood for the film. Why?

Hugh: Not my main reason, but part of the reason I wanted someone like Gavin, and all the actors shared this feeling, is that he is an amazing actor's director. He gets straight to the heart of it. He won't take any B.S. He won't take anything less than your best, most committed work, all the time. There was many an occasion where I felt a kind of friendly arm around my shoulder after take one, or sometimes before take one. Gavin has that ability, even though I had played the role three times, and yes it may be my fourth time putting the claws on, to make it feel fresh, new, deeper and, hopefully, more honest.

TeenHollywood: I was glad to see that you include much more of Wolverine's personal relationships in this, including a love story as well as the action. But, aren't there a lot of comics fans that are just into the action?

Hugh: I don't think that's true. Comic book fans have loved Wolverine, and all the X-Men characters, for more than the action. I think that's what set it apart from many of the other comic books. In the case of Wolverine, when he appeared, he was a revolution really. He was the first anti-hero. There were not just good guys versus bad guys, but an internal battle of good and bad, going on within the character. That's why people relate to them. Yeah, they're cool and they've got claws and can do amazing things with swords and cards, and all that great, fun stuff, but each one of them has a personal battle going on, and that's why audiences can relate. So, yes, the first priority of this movie is for it to be fun. I want people to come and have a great time. I want them to be entertained. I want them to go on see it on a big screen with their friends or whoever, and just have a great time. But, what we have an opportunity to deliver, and this is in the comic book itself, is to make them think a little bit and make them feel, and take them on a journey through these characters.

TeenHollywood: Speaking of the love story, can you talk about working with Lynn Collins as Kayla Silverfox?

Hugh: Lynn plays a character, and fulfills a role, that was so vital to this movie. For fans, it will be a little shocking to see a love story there. But, for anyone who knows acting and film structure, what Lynn had to pull off in the film was probably one of the most difficult things to do. She did an amazing job, and I was really, really proud of what she did. The casting of Lynn was something Gavin and I were so passionate about. The person that Wolverine could be in love with, but more importantly, the person who could be in love with this guy, was so vital and she did an amazing job. I don't want to belittle anybody else in the film. I'm so proud of it. I just wanted to say what an amazing job she did.

TeenHollywood: As an acting technique, do you ever listen to music on set to get into character? If so, what was on your playlist?

Hugh: Not on set, but when I train, I listen to Godsmack, which is the kind of music I would rarely listen to. I'd listen to it really high, as loud as I can. Sometimes, it's a little embarrassing when you're in a public gym. To me, that was as close to Wolverine as I could get.

TeenHollywood: Do you have any special memories you are taking from your experience on the film?

Hugh: It was good for me. I liked it. Genuinely, for me, it's a rare experience, as a producer, to be involved so heavily with casting and to feel so attached to a scene you're about to play with everybody and the actors who are playing the characters. Some directors don't like to rehearse so, often on film, you can turn up the day before and meet someone who is playing your wife or your lover. I was so excited to be involved because movies exist on relationships and characters, and to be in every one of these scenes was a great thrill for me. And then, as a personal moment, when we were all together in January, when finally Ryan Reynolds' schedule had loosened up for us, and we had all flown in to be with him, we were shooting and it was the Inauguration and we all stopped to view the inauguration of the President. For me, that was a highlight because, by that point, we felt like family. To be together and to be united again by that moment was pretty amazing.

TeenHollywood: Cool. Do you think you'll host the Oscars again?

Hugh: [smiling] I have to be asked. You know how that thing works.

TeenHollywood: Finish this sentence, "I know it's summer when . . ."

Hugh: When May 1st appears. It's when the summer blockbusters start rolling around.

TeenHollywood: I'm sure you are sick of this but what did you think about those articles where you deny "not being gay"?

Hugh: It just seems to me that there are a lot of more important conversations to have. That's how I've always felt about it. I don't judge people on that at all. I don't care.

TeenHollywood: Good point. Are you still keeping up your physical regimen?

Hugh: As Will Smith says, 'it's easier to stay ready than get ready'. I heard he said that. I don't know if it's true. It sounds pretty right to me. Trust me, I'm on a much more relaxed regimen than when I was making this [film].

TeenHollywood: Do you do five-mile runs like Will does?

Hugh: Is that what he does? I do a lot of trapeze work right now. I'm working on the trapeze five days a week. I do that because it's fun and different, and I needed to get out of lifting weights. But, I go back to the gym sometimes. I do a bit of everything. I make sure I enjoy it.

TeenHollywood: And so do we, Hugh. So do we!