As mentioned previously, “Logan” initially marked the end of Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart’s runs as Wolverine and Professor X. The two were the benchmarks of the “X-Men” saga, so it was sad to see them go after so long. Additionally, “Logan” is regarded as the true end of the Fox franchise, even though “Dark Phoenix” and, after being delayed four times, “The New Mutants” came a few years later. Laura turning the cross into an X drives this point home. With Charles and Logan’s deaths, the film series died as well. Of course, one could argue that this sense of finality has been somewhat lessened in recent years thanks to the slow introduction of mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Not only has Stewart returned to play Professor X in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” — even though he found it frustrating and disappointing — but Jackman is set to return as Wolverine in the aptly-titled “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Even the Fox logo makes an appearance in the latter film. Granted, this version of Stewart’s Professor X isn’t from the Fox timeline, and, despite the logo, it’s possible that this version of Jackman’s Wolverine isn’t either, so that preserves the end of “Logan” somewhat. At the same time, Stewart and Jackman were synonymous with these characters, so a case can be made that their return via the MCU does some harm to the 2017 film’s finale.
Regardless of where you stand on Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart’s Wolverine and Professor X comebacks, there’s no denying that the end of “Logan” is special. After all, it did manage to make the two actors cry, and surely countless moviegoers around the world did the same.
