X-Men (2000) was somewhat criticized for casting the tall Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, but the movie almost made a far more divisive change to Marvel’s most famous mutant. Wolverine has always been a cornerstone of the X-Men franchise, and Fox’s X-Men timeline was no different. Debuting in The Incredible Hulk #180 in 1974, the character quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his gruff demeanor and compelling backstory. When Fox made X-Men (2000), they faced pressure to make some unfavorable changes to certain characters, and Wolverine became a focal point for such discussions.

When X-Men premiered in 2000, it redefined superhero cinema, laying the groundwork for the modern comic book movie era. Among the film's standout decisions was casting the relatively unknown Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Despite his 6'2" stature – nearly a foot taller than the character in the comics – Jackman embodied Logan so well that fans quickly forgave the physical disparity. However,...