As expected, the process of recasting Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman in the X-Men movies, has begun. If nothing else, you have to give the man his due. Jackman holds the record for number of years portraying the same Marvel superhero in a live-action format, giving life to Wolverine for over 16 years.

It’s highly unlikely another actor is going to surpass that kind of longevity, and Marvel Studios surely isn’t expecting a nearly two-decade run from their next Wolverine. The casting of Jackman at a young age, and the actor’s loyalty to the role, created a unique circumstance. So, what exactly should Marvel be looking for in a new Wolverine?

What Marvel will want is an actor who is convincingly tough, with a believable soft side and sense of hard-fought wisdom. A credible Wolverine has to be just as authentic in the action scenes as the quiet moments. Having a sense of humor wouldn’t hurt either, especially considering the direction of Marvel’s films since Guardians of the Galaxy.

RELATED: X-Men Producer Campaigned for an X-Women Movie

This is where Marvel runs into the problem of being a little too successful. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is over 10 years old now, and the television tie-ins keep coming. Dozens of superhero roles have already been filled. Some great actors have been squandered in small parts (Idris Elba as Heimdall, most notably.) Other actors have seen their careers made by these roles (Chris Pratt transitioning from a cult favorite sitcom actor to legitimate action star, for example.)

Marvel looks for a certain “type” when it comes to casting tough guys, and many of the actors best suited to portray Wolverine have already appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Punisher-Jon-Bernthal

THAT OTHER VIOLENT, DANGEROUS ANTIHERO

Perhaps the biggest breakout star from The Walking Dead, Jon Bernthal’s intense performance as Shane Walsh foreshadowed his ability to play damaged, violent characters. Even as fans were griping about the series’ drastically reduced pacing in Season 2, Bernthal’s increasingly unhinged performance was enough to keep the show interesting.

After his character was killed off, Bernthal made an unexpected blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance in a hallucination sequence. This required his character to have a beard, heavy on the sideburns. As The Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick immediately noted, Bernthal looked just like Wolverine.

RELATED: Writer Brian Michael Bendis is Still Developing An X-Men Movie

Bernthal’s commitment to his performances, the dark intensity he seems to channel easily, would’ve been perfect for the role. Too bad he’s already played another ultra-violent, testosterone fueled Marvel icon. Sadly, Bernthal’s days as the Punisher are done thanks to the series' cancellation by Netflix. Now that he's so recognizable as the Punisher, there’s no chance of Marvel recasting him as Wolverine.

NEXT PAGE: Marvel Studios Doesn't Often Double Dip on Casting, But They Have Before...

EVEN HIS NAME IS TOUGH

Actor Frank Grillo might not be a household name, but he’s a respected, hard-working actor. His dark features and on-screen confidence serve him well in his typical tough guy roles. Physically, Grillo could be a perfect match for a grizzled, older Wolverine.

All of those traits also make Grillo suitable for villain roles, though. That’s why Marvel fans likely remember him as corrupt S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Brock Rumlow in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, reappearing later as Rumlow’s costumed identity Crossbones in Civil War.

RELATED: Apparently, Wolverine Rebooted the Entire Marvel Universe in 2017

It’s a shame Grillo was killed off so early in the film. Crossbones is a great villain from the comics, and Grillo brought real energy to the role. Unfortunately, appearing as the villain pretty much negates any chance he could audition for Wolverine.

A KIWI TO REPLACE AN AUSSIE

Another actor Marvel’s squandered in too small a part is Karl Urban. Sure, he was great as Skurge in Thor: Ragnarok, delivering some of the movie’s best lines (“I pulled 'em out of a place in Midgard called Tex-as. I even named them! Des, and Troy”), but, really, any random WWE wrestler could’ve been cast in that role.

Urban’s pedigree with genre entertainment is already impressive: Bones in the Star Trek reboot, Éomer in the Lord of the Rings films, Julius Caesar on Xena: Warrior Princess, Vaako in the Riddick film series, a starring role in the gone-too-soon Almost Human and, of course, a performance as Judge Dredd that erased all memories of the 1995 bomb. Plus, he was a candidate to play James Bond before the role went to Daniel Craig. Another almost Bond? Hugh Jackman.

RELATED: Return of Wolverine Finally Reveals How Logan Was Resurrected

Urban can play tough, funny and dark. It’s not hard at all to imagine him growling out Wolverine’s signature, “I’m the best there is.” He’d also come to the role with an established following. It’s difficult to find a fan of “nerd” franchises who isn’t already an admirer of Urban. So, while it was great to see Skurge get his time in the spotlight, you’ve got to wonder if this was the best use of Urban.

Hugh Jackman in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

THE BURNING QUESTION

While Marvel Studios isn’t above the occasional recasting (Alfre Woodard played both Mariah Dillard on Luke Cage and Miriam Sharpe in Civil War), it’s a stunt they rarely pull. Given Marvel’s track record, they’ll likely find the right man for the role. It might be an unexpected choice that proves the skeptics wrong, like Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, or a painfully obvious one we should’ve seen coming by now. Maybe there’s an unknown actor just weeks away from getting the same break Hugh Jackman received 20 years ago.

But it’s amusing to think of the great candidates who aren’t eligible, simply because Marvel’s already had so many roles to fill. Hey, now that we are entering a new era in the X-films, maybe this is a chance to address some of the lingering fan complaints.

RELATED: It's Not Me, It's MCU: Netflix & Marvel Simply Outgrew Their Relationship

So, go ahead and cast the toughest man alive to play Wolverine… but would it kill Marvel to use camera tricks to make him appear short? A 5 foot, 3 inch Wolverine isn’t entirely out of the question, right?