Why Does Professor X Have Hair in Logan?

Now that 20th Century Fox’sLoganis getting closer and closer, hitting theaters in just over a month, fans are preparing for what will beHugh Jackman’s last performance in aWolverine movie. There have been plenty of questions swirling around this project, including what year the movie takes place in, whichJames Mangoldrecently confirmed is 2029, five years after theX-Men: Days of Future Pastprologue. Among the other mysteries swirling about is the peculiar fact thatPatrick Stewart’s Professor X actually has hair in this movie. But it turns out there is actually a perfectly good explanation for that as well.

It has long been confirmed thatProfessor Xhas grown quite ill inLogan, andHugh Jackman’s title character has seen better days as well, in this story partially based on the iconic Old Man Logan comics. We have reported in the past that Logan has enlisted Caliban (Stephen Merchant) to help take care of the ailing Professor, who is suffering from memory loss and, at times, he can’t even remember whoLoganis. During a recent interview withEmpire, directorJames Mangoldstated thatHugh Jackman, “kind of looks likeClint EastwoodinUnforgiven”, while addressing why Professor X has hair. Here’s what he had to say, acknowledging that giving Professor X hair, “could be kind of sacrilege.”

“The theory was that he originally lost all his hair because it’s just too damn busy [in his head] to grow hair. The idea for me was, well, maybe there’s a little fringe on there, because things are slowing down mentally.”

Back in October,James Mangoldtook to Twitter to not only unveil the new poster, which confirmed theLogantitle, but he also unveiled the second page of theLoganscreenplay, which made a few things clear. One was that they were aiming for an R-rating, with plenty of adult language, but the other big takeaway is that the story is at least partially based on the Old Man Logan story. It isn’t a direct adaptation, though, since Marvel Studios controls many of the characters who show up in that story, such as Hawkeye, Hulk and Red Skull. Regardless,Loganis finally starting to age in this story, with his healing power diminishing which results in the title character resorting to booze as a painkiller. Empire also spoke withHugh Jackman, who revealed a little acting tip he got from hisEddie the Eagleco-star,Jim Broadbent, about playing an older character, which he used onLogan.

“When he was playing older,Broadbentwould tape a little stone to his heel. I would have that, just to remind myself of a limp.Logan’s body hurts. His joints hurt. His heart hurts. Psychologically, he’s damaged. What’s the collateral damage of beingWolverinefor all those years?”

There have been rumors that Professor X may actually be killed off inLogan, with some theorizing that one of the many cryptic photos released before the trailer shows a number of bullet holes inLogan’s limousine door, which is supposedly the same door Professor X was sitting next to in one of the other trailer scenes. While that certainly isn’t confirmation of the character’s death,Hugh Jackmanrevealed thatPatrick Stewartis the actor’s actual mentor off the screen as well.

“I always tell my wife, ‘when I grow up, I want to be likePatrick Stewart.’ He wakes up every morning of his life, and for thirty minutes, he gets a cup of tea, and reads a book. He reads something he loves, every day of his life. This guy knows how to live!”

The cast also includesBoyd Holbrookas the villainous Donald Pierce,Stephen Merchantas Caliban,Richard E. Grantas Dr. Xander Rice andPatrick Stewartas an ailing Professor X, along withEriq La Sallein an unspecified role.James MangolddirectsLoganfrom a script byDavid James KellyandMichael Green.Logancould very well end up being one of this year’s first blockbusters, hitting theaters on March 3, going up against Lionsgate’sThe Shack, The Weinstein Company’sLeapand Open Road Films’Before I Fall.