PUMPED UP FOR
XMEN ACTION SEQUEL
Copyright 2001 Jam Showbiz, All Rights Reserved
[ December 10th 2001 ]
Hugh
Jackman is beefing up his image. The Aussie actor
is preparing to reprise his role as Wolverine
in the sequel to X-Men, which is scheduled to
begin shooting in the spring.
"I'm
working on a weight and strength-training regime
in the gym five times a week. I'm eating more
than I ever have just to fill out the muscle mass,"
says Jackman. "I also do intensive aerobic workouts
three times a week. My trainer is the guy who
prepared Angelina Jolie for Tomb Raider."
Jackman
was considerably leaner when he filmed X-Men in
Toronto in 1999. He had just finished a run in
the London stage version of the musical Oklahoma!,
which had earned him rave revie'ws and the attention
of X-Men director Bryan Singer.
X-Men
had been shooting for a week when Jackman was
flown in to replace Dougray Scott, who had to
cancel when Mission Impossible 2 went over its
shooting schedule. X-Men fast-tracked Jackman's
career, earning him starring roles in three movies
this year -- Someone Like You, Swordfish and the
holiday movie Kate & Leopold, which opens Dec.
21.
Jackman
started his career in Australia as a musical theatre
star and tested for the role of the sleazy lawyer
opposite Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones
in the film version of the musical Chicago, which
is filming in Toronto. He lost out to Richard
Gere. Anna Paquin, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen,
James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and
Rebecca Romijn-Stamos are all reprising their
roles for the X-Men sequel.
Jackman
says he doesn't mind being marketed as a hunk.
He's gone shirtless in all his movies. "I'm not
shy. I'll peel off my shirt if the script requires,"
he says. I'm just careful that it doesn't seem
gratuitous. I don't want it to look as if I'm
showing off the results of those hours I have
to spend in the gym."
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