Filmmaker Lee Daniels is currently out on the promotional circuit for the drama “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” which recently saw Andra Day winning a Golden Globe for her performance as the famed singer.
In a recent interview with Collider to promote the film, he revealed that at one point years ago Jackman liked Daniel’s Oscar-winning film “Precious” so much, he got him a pitch meeting with Fox to discuss a Wolverine movie. It didn’t go well:
“A lot of actors call me. I remember after I did Precious, Hugh Jackman called and wanted me to do a Wolverine. And he sent me into the studio to Fox, I guess that’s where they do them at. And I had never done a studio film before and it was a disaster and I literally pulled over … Yeah, it was at Fox because I pulled over to the Kentucky Fried Chicken afterwards and ate a whole six-pack of wings. It was the worst meeting of my life. I don’t know how he gets ‘Wolverine’ from ‘Precious,’ but I love him and he’s a friend to this day… I pitched. I pitched my way right out of the room.”
Just what he pitched isn’t clear and Daniels sadly did not elaborate. “Precious” was released in 2009, the same year the first solo “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” came out to poor reviews.
James Mangold ultimately took the reins for 2013’s “The Wolverine” and 2017’s “Logan”. Daniels went on to helm “The Paperboy,” “The Butler” and created FOX’s hit “Empire”.
Daniels was also asked if he could get the financing for any project tomorrow, what would it be. He had a short and simple answer: “I would make a gay superhero film. And why? Because we haven’t seen one.”