Hugh Jackman is set to return as one of the most beloved superheroes of all time in the Hollywood blockbuster Deadpool and Wolverine later this month.
But in a surprising confession, the 55-year-old has revealed that he almost let the part that made him a global star slip through his fingers.
The Sydney-born fan favourite said in a new interview that when he first auditioned for the part of Wolverine for 2000s X-Men he was certain he would never get the part.
After exiting his try-out Hugh said he felt he had 'messed it up' but was shocked when the current boss of Marvel Studios, Kevin Fiege, offered to buy him dinner.
'I said, '' Kevin, we all know I'm not getting the part. You don’t have to do dinner'',' Hugh told Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday.
'But no, he sat in there and had a steak dinner with me and then drove me to the airport. I'll never forget it. That was the nicest thing. I thought, ''I'll never see him again'',' he said.
At the time Hugh had nowhere near a high profile. Meanwhile, the producers thought the strapping Aussie was 'too tall' at 1.9metres.
But in the end Hugh impressed the Hollywood producers.
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Hugh has played the Marvel character in eight X-Men films from 2000 until 2016, and was last seen as Wolverine in standalone movie Logan in 2017.
Deadpool and Wolverine will be the 10th time the Aussie has strapped on the big claws for the popular role.
Last month Hugh revealed the toughest part of returning to the role was that in his 50th decade 'age catches up'.
And the training to transform himself into the buff big screen beast is tougher than ever.
'The hardest bit … [was] the food,' the Prisoners actor told People magazine in June.
'I have to eat a lot. For me, for my body type, I'm naturally skinny. To get the size on, that's the hardest bit. That's the bit that does my head in.'
He added: 'My body was a little sore at the beginning, but I was thrilled that my body was still responding. And I realised how good it is for your brain.
Hugh announced his shock split from his Deborra-Lee in September after 27 years of marriage, telling fans they separated 'to pursue our individual growth'.
He shares two adopted children - son Oscar, 24, and daughter Ava, 18, - with his former wife.
The couple had tied the knot in 1996 after crossing paths on set of Correlli in 1995.
An insider previously told ET that there 'is no animosity' between the exes.
'Hugh and Deborra-Lee are both on different pages and in separate chapters of their lives,' they said.
'They felt like it was time to divorce, but they still maintain a happy and cordial friendship.'
The source went on to say that Hugh and Deborra-Lee are 'appreciative of their many years together and children.'
'At the end of the day, it was their collective agreement to go their separate ways and do the healthiest thing for everyone involved,' they added.
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