With Hugh Jackman just getting started filming his role in Tom Hooper's Les Miserables(the first image of him is here), we're still a ways off until The Wolverine kicks off in Japan. After months of relatively bad news on the sequel, starting with Darren Aronofsky dropping out, it's been quiet ever since James Mangold took over for him as director. With a release date set for July 2013, 20th Century Fox may be taking the first moves into getting the Wolverine hype machine rolling.
What appears to be the first teaser poster for The Wolverine has appeared online(via FirstShowing), courtesy of artist AJ Mester, who tweeted the image stating that it came direct from Mangold's office. Even if that turns out not to be true, it's still a pretty sweet image, simple in design with Wolvie's famous adamantium claws backed by the red sun of Japan's flag. Maybe 20th Century Fox should consider using it, or something similar to it? After the overhyped, bloated mess that X-men Origins: Wolverine was, dialing it back a little bit would be the smart way to go.
Plot details on The Wolverine remain few, but we know it'll be based on the classic story by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, the first to really explore the character with any depth and get to the root of what makes him tick. Wolverine travels to Japan where he learns about honor, finds true love with Mariko Yashida, and does deadly battle with the criminal underworld and the Silver Samurai.
