8. Alpha Flight
Fox dropped the ball when it came to exploring Wolverine’s early years in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and his connection to the Canadian superhero team known as Alpha Flight is a story which could arguably take place either in the past (thereby fleshing out Logan’s backstory) or present. Featuring a cast of characters including the likes of Guardian, Northstar, Aurora, Sasquatch, Shaman and Snowbird, including Alpha Flight in the next Wolverine movie would not only give us the chance to see the clawed X-Man teaming up with a very different team of superheroes, but for us to also learn more about his past with the Canadian government. If they could somehow also find a way to bring back Liev Schreiber’s Sabretooth, then it’s a win-win!
Although it’s not a particular arc I’m thinking of per se, in the comics Wolverine has been placed as having participated in WWII. This could be a huge opportunity for something along the lines of “Inglorious Basterds” starring Wolverine, Nazi slayer.
Frame it within a modern-day flashback/breakthrough moment, that could possibly even be brought about as fallout of the Days Of Future Past story line. As his memory reasserts itself, perhaps introduce him as WWII army volunteer (or conscript? – for dirty dozen feel) James Howlett, aware of his powers but before the amnesia and the weapon x program.
Also it could touch upon the comic that tells his childhood origins, though the meat of the story should be of his travails in the war and as an early mutant.
The twist being that it was not the weapon x program that ‘first’ took his memory of who he was – but perhaps a traumatic injury caused by a heroic wartime sacrifice. (obviously the climax of the film) Then he could wake in the present, more whole than he has been in a long time, and ride off into the sunset. I’d like to see Jackman act out that catharsis of his character.
I’ve got to admit I’m starting to want to write this… Not that I have wildly unrealistic expectations of getting a call from Fox but I’d wager I could fashion an interesting fanfic from it. It’s a shame they wouldn’t be able to cross him over with Cap (unless we could sic Puppet Master on the studios!), but there could be an opportunity to portray Wolverine within a version of the Axis-fighting Invaders. Even scratching Cap from the roster, they could consist of the (original android) Human Torch, Wolverine, Namor, Union Jack, and possibly Spitfire.