With the premiere of "Logan," Hugh Jackman's farewell to a character he's played for  nearly 17 years, just a week away, many are asking what the future holds for Wolverine and Fox's X-Men franchise. Although director James Mangold may not have the answers, he knows at least one thing: He can't imagine anyone else in the role.

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During an interview with Italian entertainment website BadTaste, the filmmaker was asked which actor he might cast to succeed Jackman as Logan. "Personally, I don't think anybody should ever play Wolverine again," Mangold replied, adding, "I'm not going to cast Hamlet — someone else can play him."

In the Marvel comics, Logan died and has been replaced by his clone-daughter Laura Kinney, aka X-23, in the "All-New Wolverine." Whether young actress Dafne Keen will likewise assume the Wolverine mantle in the Fox franchise remains to be seen, although Mangold has expressed interest in seeing X-23 in another film.

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“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 X 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" stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Richard E. Grant, Dafne Keen and Stephen Merchant.

(via We Got This Covered)