For many fans, Hugh Jackman's performance as Wolverine has been been one of the best parts of Fox's X-Men franchise, even if the films aren't always so great. But as the actor prepares to say farewell to the role he's played for nearly 17 years, he confesses he initially had problems with Logan.

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"I was kind of struggling, to be honest," he revealed Saturday at the Producers Guild Awards. "It was the first movie I had ever done in America. I was pretty tight. I was nervous. I was average, to be honest, at best. No one was saying anything and I sort of thought I was getting away with it, but I wasn't."

It required the intervention of Fox's Tim Rothman to turn around Jackman's performance in 2000's "X-Men."

"He told me that he believed in me, that from the moment he'd seen my tape he had a gut feeling I was the guy," Jackman recalled, "but watching my dailies was like watching someone put a lampshade over a light."

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It's difficult to imagine what might've become of Jackman's career, or the X-Men franchise, without that bit of course correction. He of course went on to reprise his role as Wolverine in seven more films. He'll make his ninth, and purportedly final, appearance as the character in "Logan."

“I’m really, really proud of this movie,” he recently said. “I was really keen that I didn’t leave the party feeling like I could dance more. I think I’m pretty much danced out, and I had a great time. It’s been an unbelievable ride, but it feels right.”

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Directed by James Mangold, “Logan” is set in the near future, years after the epilogue of 2014’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” In it, a weary Logan, whose healing factor is failing, cares for an ailing Professor Xavier in a hideout on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, pursued by dark forces.

Opening March 3, “Logan” also stars Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Dafne Keen, Eriq La Salle, Elise Neal and Elizabeth Rodriguez.

(via E! Online)