BREAKING: Fox has set a July 26, 2013 release date for its Hugh Jackman-starring The Wolverine. The sequel to 2009′s X-Men Origins: Wolverine has had a winding road so far, starting with original director Darren Aronofsky bowing out and March. He eventually was replaced by James Mangold, ending one of the most competitive contests among Hollywood helmers for a major studio film. Fox then was looking to start production in fall 2011 on the Christopher McQuarrie script, but that was delayed to the spring, allowing Jackman to first make the Tom Hooper-directed musical Les Miserables for Universal before returning to his X-Men character.  The release date has already been staked out by Lionsgate’s Dirty Dancing pic and Disney’s Phineas And Ferb movie.

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