A newly spotted Wolverine trademark filing has reignited speculation that Marvel Studios may be developing a standalone Wolverine project separate from its upcoming X-Men plans.
A fan flagged the filing on the official U.S. government trademark database, showing Marvel Characters, Inc. submitted a new application for “WOLVERINE” covering motion pictures, television programs, and multimedia entertainment.
Wolverine Trademark Filed by Marvel
The trademark application was filed on December 12, 2025, and explicitly covers the production and distribution of films and television content.
While trademark filings don’t guarantee a project is moving forward, they’re often used to lock down titles ahead of future announcements.
The filing immediately caught attention given Marvel’s current push toward mutants and its ongoing Avengers: Doomsday rollout.
Separate Wolverine and X-Men Movies?
Previous rumors have claimed that Wolverine will not be part of the MCU’s core X-Men lineup when the team is formally introduced.
If true, the trademark filing adds fuel to speculation that Marvel may be planning separate X-Men and Wolverine movies and/or TV shows, similar to how Fox previously handled the characters.
That approach would allow Marvel to keep Wolverine as a standalone draw while positioning the X-Men as a broader ensemble. Eventually, Wolverine could be brought into the X-Men.
Kevin Feige Wants Hugh Jackman to Stay
Industry rumors have repeatedly claimed that Kevin Feige wants to keep Hugh Jackman around as Wolverine for as long as possible, especially following the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine.
The trademark filing lines up with that thinking, suggesting Marvel may want flexibility to continue using Jackman’s version of the character even as new mutant stories roll out.
Rumors have also said Feige wants Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine vs Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk.
Henry Cavill Wolverine Talks Resurface
Adding another layer to the speculation, our insiders have filled us in that Henry Cavill has had talks with Marvel about potentially playing Wolverine in the MCU.
That claim was later echoed by another scooper, who said Cavill met with Marvel after Deadpool & Wolverine.
MCU’s X-Men
The MCU’s X-Men may arrive sooner rather than later, as Sadie Sink is said to be playing Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Avengers: Doomsday also includes the Fox X-Men with Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, and Channing Tatum. Reportedly, the Doomsday X-Men music has also leaked online.
Feige has said the new age of mutants will kick off following Secret Wars.
