X-Men Star Hugh Jackman Comments On Director Bryan Singer's Controversies

Hugh Jackman, best known for playing Wolverine across over 20 years of X-Men movies, commented on the franchise's legacy after its oft-returning director Bryan Singer has faced multiple accusations of hostile set environments as well as sexual misconduct and harassment.

Since the early days of #MeToo, multiple men have accused Singer of sexual misconduct. Some of the accusers were minors at the time of the alleged incidents. In an interview with The Guardian, Jackman was asked whether "Singer's alleged behavior has tainted Jackman's view of the franchise that made him a star?"

Jackman responded that, "there's certainly questions to be asked and I think they should be asked... I think it's complex and ultimately I look back with pride at what we've achieved and what momentum that started." X-Men was in some sense ground zero for modern comic book movies. It set the stage for Jackman's future career, but also for Sam Raimi's Spider-Man and the eventual dominance of the MCU.

However, Singer's behavior has been a source of controversy since the film's release, though many of his alleged victims did not come forward until recently. The Hollywood Reporter recounted that the set of X-Men was traumatic and toxic. A report from Variety about Jackman's recent comments added context from its prior interview with Halle Berry. When asked about Singer, she said, "Bryan's not the easiest dude to work with. I mean, everybody's heard the stories." Singer is not the only X-Men director to face sexual misconduct allegations. The Last Stand director Brett Ratner allegedly outed and harassed Elliot Page on set.

Jackman was vague about his own experience with Singer saying, "there are some stories, you know... I think there are some ways of being on set that would not happen now." Jackman also clarified that he feels sets have become more accepting over time. He said, "There's way less tolerance for disrespectful, marginalizing, bullying, any oppressive behavior. There's zero tolerance for it now and people will speak out, and I think that's great."

Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine in Deadpool 3. Bryan Singer's last film was the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, from which Singer was fired for going missing from the set.