Hugh Jackman has revealed that his fascination with flawed antiheroes played a major role in shaping his performance in the upcoming film The Death of Robin Hood.
Speaking in an interview with PEOPLE, the Australian actor said he has long been drawn to complex characters who operate in the moral grey areas rather than traditional heroes.
“I am fascinated by them,” Jackman said, reflecting on the types of roles that have captivated him throughout his career.
The actor, known for portraying Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, explained that his interest in antiheroes dates back to his childhood. He pointed to Han Solo from Star Wars as one of the earliest characters that sparked his curiosity.
“I go back to even Star Wars as a kid; it was, ‘Who’s Han Solo? That’s an interesting character.’ I was very intrigued by them,” he said.
Jackman also cited Clint Eastwood’s acclaimed western Unforgiven as a significant influence on his appreciation for morally complex storytelling.
“As I get older, I’m more and more drawn to the grey areas of humanity rather than the easy fix,” he noted, adding that he prefers characters who cannot be easily defined as heroes or villains.
The actor’s latest project, The Death of Robin Hood, explores a darker and more mature version of the legendary outlaw. Jackman said the film shares similarities with Logan, the critically acclaimed 2017 movie that marked his final outing as Wolverine.
“I really love that — because, Logan, I had a lot of say in where we were going with that,” he said.
According to Jackman, the new film pushes those themes even further while maintaining certain parallels with the Wolverine farewell story.
“And I think this takes it even further, but there are some definite parallels there,” he added.
The actor has built a diverse career with roles ranging from monster hunter Gabriel Van Helsing in Van Helsing to showman P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman. However, he said it is the flawed, conflicted characters that continue to resonate most with him.
The Death of Robin Hood is set for a theatrical release, offering audiences a darker interpretation of one of literature’s most enduring heroes.
