When news broke that Hugh Jackman will no longer play the iconic X-Men character Wolverine, fans and followers of the franchise were left wondering about the potential replacements for the actor. While no official confirmation has been sent out with regard the candidates taken under consideration, it looks like Conan O'Brien took it upon himself to educate the fans on the progress of the search for the next Wolverine, according to Slash Film.
Stating that he and his team managed to snag the audition tapes of some candidates for Jackman's replacement, the widely popular talk show host shared the clips to the delighted viewers. In a humorous compilation of video clips to simulate supposed auditions for the superhero character, O'Brien listed the help of some of the funniest and biggest stars in the industry.
The clip opens with Thomas Middleditch, the star of hit TV series, "Silicon Valley." True to his character in the said TV show, the actor's version of Wolverine turned out to be a bit weak and soft-spoken. This caused the person supposedly handling the audition to ask him to deliver the lines with more gusto and energy but the actor still failed to delivering, garnering applause and praises from O'Brien's audience.
The second person to appear onscreen is Nick Offerman, one of the most loved characters in Amy Poehler's "Parks and Recreations." Known as the formidable and bullheaded Ron Swanson in the recently concluded TV series, it came as no surprise when Offerman refused to repeat his lines when the cameraman asked him to deliver it in a particular manner. He is then seen walking out of the set - much to the delight of the viewers.
Patton Oswalt is the next "candidate." A well-known stand-up comedian, Oswalt delivered his version of the X-Men character by bursting into a song and doing the "claw drop." Hannibal Buress comes in after him and the Comedy Central comedian gains laughs when he attempts to recreate the growl-like voice of Jackman. Failing to do so, Buress then says that he might be "more of a Gambit."
Surprisingly, retired TV show host Larry King also takes part of the clip. Walking towards the spot, which is very reminiscent of his entrance in his shows, the multi-awarded host begins his spiel by sounding like an advertiser instead of an actor. He then ends his lines by saying, "And stick around for more with the Wolverine right after the break."
Michael Sheen then goes onscreen. To presumably become a contender, he points out that the Wolverine is Canadian and Jackman is Australian. Hence, Sheen says that it would be a great idea to "keep it under the Queen's realm." He is then shown in a James Bond-ish outfit and before he finishes his spiel, he is dismissed by the casting director.
The screen then shows Kristen Schaal, who enters the audition scene wearing a Ghostbusters outfit complete with the accompanying weapons. She is also covered in slime - trademark look of the said franchise. She delivers her spiel, saying that she is more than prepared to fight off ghosts. Her enthusiasm falters, however, when the cameraman points out that she is in the audition for Wolverine.
Finally, the audience goes wild as the one and only Betty White enters the scene. Seemingly confused on the purpose of the audition, the 90-year-old comedienne asks the casting director why she is being considered for the role. As a punchline, the "Golden Girls" star inquires whether her "claws" are the reason behind the casting.
The news of Jackman's decision to quit first broke out via social media when the actor posted the message, "WOLVERINE ... ONE LAST TIME. HJ," in Instagram, according to an earlier Christianity Daily report. The same sentiment was echoed by the X-Men star in another interview. "I'm doing my last one," Jackman confirmed on "Live with Kelly and Michael," according to Coming Soon. He added, "I'm more excited about this movie than ever before, and I just know in my gut it's the right thing. Hopefully in five years, I'm not coming back here going, 'Why did I do that?'"
Watch the hilarious video here.
