Hugh Jackman, the 55-year-old actor known for his iconic portrayal of Wolverine, recently revealed the intense dietary regimen he followed to reprise his role in the upcoming film “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
During an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Jackman disclosed that he consumed a staggering 6,000 calories per day to achieve the character’s signature muscular physique.
When host Jimmy Fallon jokingly asked if Jackman’s diet consisted of “steamed rocks,” the actor quipped, “Yeah, sometimes I fry the rocks.” He then elaborated on the reality of his meal plan, explaining, “It’s 6,000 calories, and it’s not the calories you necessarily want. Like, half a pizza is 6,000 calories. But no, this is chicken, and it’s tilapia and beans. Tilapia and beans. I don’t know why tilapia. It must be some fish that is lean, and green beans.”
Jackman also shared that due to last year’s Hollywood strikes, he had to maintain this rigorous diet longer than initially planned. He recounted a conversation with director Shawn Levy about scheduling a particular scene where he wanted to focus on his physical appearance. “I said, ‘Let’s just put it to the end.’ And then the strike came, and I was like, ‘Oh, why did I say that?'” Despite the challenges, Jackman affirmed that “it’s worth it” in the end.
This intense preparation comes at a time when Jackman, now in his mid-50s, has become increasingly health-conscious. The actor has previously dealt with basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, multiple times, as he has shared in public posts and interviews.
Interestingly, Jackman’s approach to achieving Wolverine’s physique has evolved over the years. In contrast to his current dietary focus, there have been discussions in fitness circles about the potential use of PEDs by actors to achieve superhero-like physiques. However, Jackman has not publicly addressed such speculations.
According to Joe Rogan, Hugh Jackman utilized PEDs and CGI to get the “Wolverine” body.
Rogan discusses this with Derek in an episode of the podcast Joe Rogan Experience featuring youtuber More Plates More Dates.
“They’re gonna CGI it. He said that he can’t do this anymore, and it’s also he’s in his 50s.”
“I’m not going to commit to f**king killing myself potentially for (a movie).”
“I mean what do you think that a guy like that gets on to get that big? I mean what kind of stuff? I’ve never gotten that big. So when you get that big like, what are you on?”
The actor has, however, been open about the physical toll of portraying Wolverine over the years. In a previous interview with the BBC, Jackman revealed that the role had done “irreparable damage” to his voice, particularly affecting his falsetto range due to the character’s signature growling and yelling.
