Hugh Jackman has revealed it will take him six months of intense training to get back into shape for his role as Wolverine in Deadpool 3.
The actor, 54, is set to undergo half a year of grueling exercise and dieting to get shredded for the character, admitting it takes "time" to get those washboard abs.
Jackman starred as Wolverine in the X-Men film series from 2000 until 2017, earning him the Guinness World Record for "longest career as a live-action Marvel character", until his record was overtaken in 2021 by Patrick Stewart.
However, Jackman is set to reprise the iconic character for Deadpool 3, which is slated for release in November 2024.
He revealed that it will take him six months to get into peak physical shape for the character - despite already having a good level of fitness from currently starring in The Music Man on Broadway.
Jackman revealed on Who's Taking to Chris Wallace: "I’m not doing any other work. I’m going to be with my family and train. That’s going to be my job for six months.
"And I’m really fit right now. There’s one thing that about eight shows a week being on Broadway singing and dancing is I’m fit. So I’m healthy. I have a good place to start."
He added: "I’ve learned you can’t rush it. I’ve learned that it takes time."
Jackman will star alongside Ryan Reynolds in the superhero action film after teasing the project was in the works last year.
While building a ripped physique requires a lot of hours in the gym, a key component is also abiding by a strict diet too.
He explained how he got into shape for his nine outings as Wolverine, admitting: "I did it the old-school way. I've eaten more chickens, I'm so sorry to all the vegans, the vegetarians, and to all the chickens of the world.
"The Karma's not good for me. If the deity has anything related to chickens, I'm in trouble."
Jackman also joked that he was put off the idea of ever using steroids to achieve the figure he was after about hearing of the side-effects - which include erectile dysfunction.
"I had been told anecdotally what the side effects are of that and I was like – I don't love it that much," he quipped.
Reynolds and Jackman had set social media alight in September as they announced that Wolverine would be in Deadpool 3 in the most nonchalant manner ever.
They shared a teaser video showing Reynolds struggling to come up with ideas for Deadpool 3 at home, before Jackman casually walked into the back of shot.
Reynolds asked: "Hey, Hugh. You want to play Wolverine one more time?", to which Jackman replied: "Yeah. Sure, Ryan."
We already can't wait... though the chickens of the world might feel differently.
Featured image credit: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy