From The Daily Telegraph: 

Melbourne’s Kodi Smit-McPhee has signed up to play a young version of Jackman’s claw-wielding mutant alter ego in the up-coming action thriller Wolverine.The 11-year-old, who is up against his Romulus, My Father co-star Eric Bana for best lead actor at this year’s AFI Awards, will begin filming at Fox Studios in December.

““I am very excited about it. I like how their claws come out.” he said yesterday.

Hmm…I wonder if they’re going to give him BONE CLAWS like in the comics, or just display young Wolverine’s healing powers? The movie-verse (in X2: X-Men United) said that Logan gained his claws from William Stryker. We’ll see…

Thanks Pat!

1). The Morning Herald reports that New Zealand actor Aaron Jeffery has screen tested for the role of Wolverine’s brother in the upcoming spin-off film (say what???).

2). Could the possible upcoming Writers Guild, Screen Actors Guild, and Directors Guild strikes late next year be the reason for 20th Century Fox moving X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE to 2009? While it’s only speculation on our part, you might want to check out this artical via Entertainment Weekly. Studios are quickly putting films into production due to there possibly being a lack of releases in 2009.

3). Australian actor Brendan Cowell recently auditioned for a mutant role in the Hugh Jackman spinoff film, according to Top Shelf Radio.

4). Stuff.co.nz confirms what XMF first told our visitors; that some filming for the May 1, 2009 film will take place in New Zealand around Queenstown and Central Otago for four weeks beginning in late December. Main filming will take place at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia.

Thanks AD, Retroman, and Narrows.

Earlier this month, WOLVERINE star Hugh Jackman was greeted bothered by some paparazzi, with many images of him (in X-suit) to autograph. This would be great if it was from respectable fans like us…but most ‘fans’ don’t have framed pictures on-hand in a situation like this; they’re just trying to get money! Hopefully Hugh didn’t sign them!

Photo Source: Splash

Wow - today has been extremely busy with news regarding WOLVERINE! Now comes some small bits of info, regarding the production from The Daily Telegraph. According to the publication:

• Main filming will be at Fox Studios in Sydney.
• Filming begins towards the end of November.
• The budget’s believed to be north of $100 million.
• It’s going to be a fast, enormous production!

Update: 20th Century Fox tells us they haven’t locked an official title yet, but it may be going in that direction (X-Men Origins). Stay tuned to XMF for the latest!

Our friends at IESB are reporting that they’re hearing Wolverine’s film will simply be titled WOLVERINE, while Magneto’s film is being changed to the X-MEN ORIGINS name we reported on earlier. Apparently, ‘Magneto’ director David Goyer drastically changed Sheldon Turner’s original script draft (which has been reviewed online).

The site also mentions that casting for WOLVERINE will begin this or next month, and the film will feature the debuts of some popular mutants that have yet to grace the screen.

Would Ben Foster (X3’s Angel) be interested in returning for future ‘X-Men’ films? The actor told Superhero Hype, “I don’t know. I think it’s a very expensive movie to make now with all of the celebrities. If it’s a good script and the director knows what he’s doing, sure.”

Foster may already have an option for future X-films, as 20th Century Fox had signed many of the new X3 actors with multiple-picture deals (just in case). Seeing as how Angel had a small role in ‘The Last Stand’, it would definitely be cool to see more of the character on the big screen. Now…if 20th Century Fox would just make another team film.

Source: SHH