Liam McIntyre, the voice behind Logan in Insomniac Games' upcoming title Marvel's Wolverine, has revealed his approach to embodying the iconic character. Instead of focusing on a single prior interpretation, McIntyre stated he drew inspiration from the many actors who have brought Wolverine to life previously.
"It was every single one," McIntyre told Polygon. "I had so many great teachers, from wonderful performances of the past, and trying to find your own sort of spin or take on it." He specifically cited Hugh Jackman, Cal Dodd, and Steve Blum as performers whose work he studied to understand the core elements that define Wolverine.
Building on a Legacy
McIntyre emphasized his goal was not to replicate past performances but to understand their success and find the essence of the character that he could then infuse with his own interpretation. This approach aligns with Insomniac's apparent vision for the game, which seeks to build upon decades of Marvel lore while offering a fresh take on the character.
"I would see Hugh [Jackman] and Cal Dodd and, Steve Blum and other wonderful performers and try to go, ‘Well, that’s such a great display of what makes Wolverine Wolverine. I’ll try and find the essence of that character as I can do it, because I can’t copy it,’" he explained. The process involved studying Wolverine's history, analyzing his dialogue, and identifying where his own personality could connect with the character.
McIntyre's performance in Marvel's Wolverine aims to capture both the expected ferocity and a more vulnerable side of James "Logan" Howlett. While the game itself has faced criticism regarding its story and overall execution, leading to it being one of Sony's lowest-rated PS5 exclusives according to reviews, McIntyre's multifaceted portrayal of Logan has been a consistent highlight. Critics have noted the sensitivity he brought to the character beneath his more brutal exterior.
Marvel's Wolverine is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 on September 15. In addition to his role as Wolverine, McIntyre also voices Ax Battler in Paramount Plus' new animated series Golden Axe, which premieres on September 16.