'Weapon X’ Is Rumored Title For ‘Wolverine 3’? First Footage To Release At San Diego Comic-Con

Wolverine 3 will be Hugh Jackman’s last run with the claws and the film may just have finally gotten a title: Weapon X . The rumor (via GameZone ’s ‘reliable’ sources) seems quite plausible considering the influence of the original 1991 Marvel Comics Presents story arc of the same name.

It’s no coincidence Weapon X was explored in X-Men:Apocalypse. The post-credits scene also teased a connection to Nathaniel Essex, one of the earliest scientists involved in the Weapon X program. At the end of Apocalypse, a man retrieves vials of leftover Wolverine blood labelled Weapon X and puts them in labelled ESSEX CORP.

Nathaniel Essex, aka Mister Sinister, is a genius scientist obsessed with the Summers genetic line. Mister Sinister is responsible for the birth of Nathan Summers (aka Cable). He created a clone of Jean Grey (aka Madelyne Pryor) to breed with Scott Summers (aka Cyclops). Apocalypse and Sinister are allies at first, but it's later revealed Mister Sinister actually created Cable to make a mutant powerful enough to destroy him.

Using his celestial technology, Apocalypse aided Essex’s transformation into Mr. Sinister. The human mutate has a variety of powers, including telepathy, telekinesis, teleportation, shapeshifting and molecular regeneration.

The existence of Essex, a mad-scientist type character played by Richard E. Grant (Jekyll & Hyde), and a villainous head of security played by Boyd Holbrook (Narcos) certainly appear to corroborate the tentative title, but Wolverine 3 can’t just be another origin story. That’s where Old Man Logan comes in.

Wolverine 3 was originally rumored to follow the Old Man Logan arc, a direction both Hugh Jackman and the creative team have teased multiple times. Mark Millar and Steve McNiven’s 2008-2009 story is set more than 50 years in the future, in a world where heroes don’t exist and supervillains rule. After an army of supervillains attacks the X-Mansion, Wolverine slaughters them all to protect the younger mutants. Come to find out, it was all an illusion created by Mysterio. The people he killed weren't the bad guys, they were the very mutants he swore to protect. He throws away his old ‘Wolverine’ persona and wanders across the land trying to deal with the consequences of his actions. In this dystopian society, he refuses to use his claws until the very end when he decides to seek vengeance.

Wolverine 3 will be rated R, takes place in the future and has a “violent western” tone, all of which fit the description of Old Man Logan. Not to mention recent set photos of Hugh Jackman looking disheveled and extra old.

The existence of Wolverine’s origin in Weapon X and future in Old Man Logan will bring Logan’s character development full circle, which suggests we may also be introduced to another new character: X-23. Also known as Laura Kinney, X-23 is a clone created using a partial genetic sample of Wolverine (aka Weapon X) DNA. Mister Sinister didn't create her, but the Apocalypse's post-credits and future events in Wolverine 3, could explain how Dr. Martin Sutter get's ahold of Weapon X's DNA. It may be a stretch, but considering Jackman's on his way out and she has Bryan Singer’s stamp of approval, it'd be a perfect time for X-23's official introduction into the franchise. Someone has to take the reins as the new Wolverine.

The Weapon X title will reportedly be confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con. Also expect a poster and some fresh footage according to Game Zone. Wolverine 3 hits theaters March 3, 2017.