SDCC 08: Wolverine Unleashes Gambit

July 24, 2008 - 20th Century Fox offered a special treat today for fans attending the studio's movies presentation at the San Diego Comic-Con with a first look at next year's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, complete with an appearance by Logan himself, star Hugh Jackman.

The Gavin Hood-directed spin-off recounts Wolverine's exploits before he joined the X-Men. The prequel stars Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed (a.k.a. Sabretooth), Danny Huston as William Stryker, Dominic Monaghan as Beak, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, Taylor Kitsch as Gambit, and Will.i.am as Wraith.

Jackman surprised the crowd with his "unscheduled" appearance, telling the fans that the movie had literally just wrapped filming and thanking them for all the success he's had thanks to Wolverine. He then came down off the stage to meet Wolverine creator Len Wein and shake his hand.

Jackman then presented "bad ass" exclusive full of "beserker rage" footage from the movie, which he also produced. And we can confirm that it was indeed bad ass.

The trailer-like sequence opens with Logan and Creed in a military prison cell where they survived execution by firing squad for decapitating a senior officer. They are met by Colonel William Stryker, who offers them a chance to serve their country by taking part in the Weapon X program. We then saw glimpses of the team's different members: Blob, Deadpool. Wraith and, in perhaps the biggest mass geekgasm Hall H has ever heard, Gambit.

We then see Logan in the tank where he undergoes the adamantium process, awakening in a beserker rage and slashing down a number of guards. Stryker then calls on Creed, clad in a black trenchcoat and black outfit, to hunt down his old Army buddy Logan. You can imagine how that turns out.

The footage showed Gambit tossing his trademark cards and riding a motorcycle. There was plenty of shots from a chase sequence between Wolverine on a motorcycle, Army trucks and a helicopter. The wartime sequences appear to be set in the Vietnam era, with the New Zealand countryside doubling for Southeast Asia.

Jackman, who had just gotten off a plane from Australia, did not take any questions but thanked the fans profusely for all they've done for his career.