ROTTEN TOMATOES: Liev Schreiber Joining Wolverine?

Liev Schreiber Joining Wolverine?

Same actor, same film, new rumor.

by Jeff Giles | January 14, 2008

Plenty of names have been floated as possible co-stars for Hugh Jackman in the forthcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine -- and one of the most frequently mentioned has been Liev Schreiber as a young Colonel William Stryker.

These rumors, according to CHUD, have been incorrect -- sort of. Schreiber's in the movie, you see; it's just that he's playing another character. What, you want specifics? Oh, all right: If CHUD's "multiple sources" are on target, Liev will be playing none other than Wolverine's nemesis, Sabretooth. As Devin Faraci puts it, "When you have a real director...like Gavin Hood, and he casts a real actor like Liev Schreiber...well, how can you not be at least intrigued?"

For those unfamiliar with the comics, Sabretooth has abilities similar to Wolverine's, but where Wolverine attempts to keep his sociopathic tendencies in check (and generally succeeds), Sabretooth -- also known as Graydon "Victor" Creed -- revels in them. Their similarities have been the source of a number of battles since Sabretooth's debut in the late '70s.

So what about the role of Stryker? According to CHUD, "Nobody is set yet, but the producers are darkly dreaming Dexter, if you know what I mean." The article goes on to tip Michelle Monaghan as a possible Silver Fox -- which would seem to negate earlier rumors giving the part to Maggie Q.

Source: CHUD

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(1-20 of 28 posts) | Reply

Matanuki writes:
on Jan 14 2008 06:17 AM

When I read he was playing Stryker, I was like "cool!". But Sabertooth.. What?! That seems an incredibly odd choice. Considering, of course, the specifics of the character. Liev Schreiber is indeed a "real" actor, whatever that means, but I don't know. Then again, many of us felt the same way about Jackman when he was originally cast as Wolverine. Hmm....

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John Z. Delorean writes:
on Jan 14 2008 06:30 AM

I Immediately thought Sabretooth when I saw this. The profile fits and the Sabretooth is not a monosyllabic speaking blockhead, he's actually pretty intelligent and sadistic not like how he was portrayed in the horrible X-men flicks.

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dahluzz writes:
on Jan 14 2008 06:38 AM

the imdb synopsis alludes to creed starting out as a man or regular mutant. According to the charcter's origin, creed turns into sabretooth via the weapon x program, which he undergoes alongside logan.

maybe shreiber starts out looking normal and comes out of the procedure looking all beastified. It could be a good opportunity to showcase some strong make-up and costume work. so we'll see.

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Shatter24 writes:
on Jan 14 2008 06:40 AM

I have a bit of a problem with re-casting parts already played in the X-Men films. I'd really like it if the actor who played Stryker in X-Men 2 came back, and they used make-up or CGI to make him look a little younger. After all, in the flashback scenes, he was played by the same person.

As for Sabretooth, there will hopefully be heavy make-up and appendages on the character, so we won't strongly tell that its not the same guy from X-Men 1. Creed is supposed to be physically bigger than Wolverine, I hope that is kept in mind when casting.

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Baccus83 writes:
on Jan 14 2008 06:58 AM

And Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth...

Oddest casting rumor I've heard in a long time. Not to say that he's "above" this kind of stuff, but... I mean the guy does Shakespeare, and he's a pretty skilled performer.

However, if this is any indication of the direction that the film will take with it's characters, I've just become more excited.

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Dave the Destroyer writes:
on Jan 14 2008 07:38 AM

.......Could be one of those things where a second banana steals the movie - like Thomas Hayden Church in Spidey III...........

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TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Jan 14 2008 08:05 AM

I agree with everyone so far- this is kinda weird. I want to go on record with my general respect and enjoyment of Schreiber's work, so far, but this is just an odd choice. I completely agree with Shatter that Sabretooth is supposed to be NOTICEABLY bigger than Wolverine, and I don't see that happening with Schreiber-- and I'm not that psyched about them going make-up or CG crazy to make that happen when they could've gotten someone who is just naturally bigger, though maybe not as good an actor.

It seems to me that they picked an interesting tool to tell their story with LS, but they limited their options on how to use it.

Can we get back to how unforgivably PATHETIC the title is? "X-men Origins: Wolverine"
..wow. I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth, typing that.
You're getting some positive buzz on the street for this movie (finally). This is where you put down the Corporate Sh#tbag playbook and have some balls. Call it simply "Wolverine" and stop worrying about all three amish families who won't make the connection between this movie and the franchise.

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Matanuki writes:
on Jan 14 2008 08:13 AM

In reply to this comment (#1467193)
LOL. All three Amish families, Tombstone? Good one. I agree the title should just be "Wolverine". But "X Men Origins" could work so long as they do more than just one, like "X Men Origins: Magneto", "X Men Origins: Storm", that sort of thing. "X Men Origins" can be the main title of a different kind of franchise, and the "sequels" can simply be origin stories for other interesting characters from the X Men universe. I'd be on board with that. But if this title is a stand alone for just the Wolverine flick, then, yeah, it's unforgivably stupid.

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Baccus83 writes:
on Jan 14 2008 09:38 AM

Let's not forget that a really good actor can make you forget his physical limitations. That being said, it's an interesting choice. Lots of people cried foul when Heath Ledger landed the Joker part, but now everybody's excited after having seen the previews.

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John Sabala writes:
on Jan 14 2008 09:46 AM

Leive shreiber, is the worst pic that will go down in history. They should have stuck with Gerard Butler IMO. To pic him as Sabretooth should have been thought through more carefully. You got to see what we fans thought about that, and have some kind of vote to find out who the right choice to play sabretooth. Because this is getting out of hand of who plays important roles such as movies like this. Just like Nick Stahl playing John Conner in T3. "(I mean come on man)", he looked like a chump in the movie and even when they tried to make him look older as John Conner. He did not look like no hero type at all. He had a big forhead. In Terminator 2, "(now that future John Conner looked like a hero type)". Cameron new he has to have a leader type look, Cameron would have never casted Nick Stahl for T3. You have to find someone that can fit exactly Creed Status or can portray it. For **** sakes, even little kids can act so why is it hard to find someone to act and play Sabretooth. Here is an example go to world gym and find the meanest motha f---- in there that can fit the look as Sabretooth and ask him can he act, "if not teach his ***, "(**** why not)", hollywood has done crazy **** before. But Leive Shreiber, naw man. I will quote what that one spartan warrior said in 300 to you hollywood people getting Leive Shreiber to play Sabretooth. "(Is this the best you can doooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!)".

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TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Jan 14 2008 10:04 AM

Baccus, you're right, but there's a fundamental difference-- historically, Joker was not intended to be physically superior (or really even equal, for that matter) to Batman. Quite the contrary, he is is seen as almost more deadly because he overcomes his 'average' physique by sheer insanity.
On the contrary, Sabretooth, in every Wolverine story and backstory I've read, is supposed to be the nightmare version of Wolverine: all his powers and hunting skills, on top of being bigger and stronger. ..and I'll be happy to discuss my source material.
I'm not saying LS will be a BAD choice, I'm just saying they have their work cut out for them on the visual.

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EdwardBlake writes:
on Jan 14 2008 10:11 AM

Going from Tyler Mane to Liev Schreiber is a big stretch.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jan 14 2008 11:16 AM

Will they make Sabretooth wear a yalumlka then?

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bigbrother writes:
on Jan 14 2008 11:19 AM

I've always heard Sabretooth's real name as Victor Creed. I thought Graydon Creed was a separate character, his son who led a mutant hate group. Is that not right? or am I just that out of touch with the comics? Why the hell would you abbreviate Graydon Victor? It just doesn't make much sense to me.

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BatsInTheBelfry writes:
on Jan 14 2008 12:52 PM

Liev Screiber is a big man guys. He's 6'4 and actually pretty built. Not to mention he's one of the best actors around right now. I hope these rumors are true.

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Shadowflare writes:
on Jan 14 2008 02:15 PM

@bigbrother: you are correct.

I fear for this movie. This is an interesting casting choice, but still, I fear for this movie.

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Robert_Paulsen writes:
on Jan 14 2008 04:06 PM

This sounds like good news to me, and Batsinthebelfry is right, he is a pretty big dude.

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foodstamps_govermentcheez writes:
on Jan 14 2008 07:45 PM

Can we just stop with all the rumours already and start filming.To much talk about this movie and nothing is going forward.

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Hamboner writes:
on Jan 14 2008 10:23 PM

I am happy that someone else is repelled by this hopeless title. It is almost as if they are trying to get the built-in audience a sequel would get while trying to somehow trick them into thinking it is a sequel ( and if you yell back to me "NO, IT'S a PREQUEL" than you miss the point ).

I am still curious as to how much of Wolverine's past they'll cover... Alpha Flight? Omega Red? Being a farmboy? How about his odyssey of sexual discovery in a Phillipino brothel? Yeah, I made that part up.

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Young Turk writes:
on Jan 15 2008 01:43 AM

"When you have a real director...like Gavin Hood, and he casts a real actor like Liev Schreiber...well, how can you not be at least intrigued?"

nuff said.

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