Film / News
Meet the first Bristolian Marvel superhero
He’s the first Bristolian superhero since, erm, Dave Prowse became the Green Cross Man. Best known for his stand-up comedy performances and as co-creator of The Office, Bristol’s very own Stephen Merchant takes a very different role in the upcoming 10th (count ’em!) X-Men movie, Logan, which reaches UK cinemas on March 3.
Hugh Jackman’s swansong as Wolverine is touted as the most violent X-Men flick to date and finds the aging, grizzled, clawsome mutant caring for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) on the Mexican border. So where’s the gangly local funny fella in all of this? Well, Merchant takes over the role of Caliban from Tomas Lemarquis. He’s a Logan/Wolverine sidekick who has the handy ability to track other mutants.
The first image of Merchant sporting his new pasty-faced slaphead look in the role was revealed on The Jonathan Ross Show last year.
Further pictures are now being drip-fed onto social media as part of the film’s publicity campaign, the latest being a moody monochrome snap released at the weekend.
You can also glimpse him briefly in the first trailer for the film, looking not unlike the Invisible Man in his full-face garb with hat and shades.