Liev Schreiber Explains Why He Didn’t Return as Sabretooth in Logan

Actor Liev Schreiber has confirmed the reason for his absence in Logan. Released in 2017, the film was meant to serve as a bookend to Hugh Jackman’s time as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, a run that went back to the original film’s release in 2000. Schreiber played Logan’s half-brother Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth, back in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but he never did reprise that role. Before Logan was released, many fans likely figured the character would appear in some capacity, given his history with Logan, but such an appearance did not materialize.

In a new interview with GQ, Schreiber said that the reason he wasn’t there in the movie was simply because he was not given the call. Schreiber makes it known that he would have loved to return as Sabretooth if he’d been asked, though he acknowledges that the character didn’t fit into the narrative the director James Mangold had for the film. As the actor explains:

“They didn’t ask me [to return]. No, I mean, I don’t think he was part of that story. You know? He wasn’t part of that story. I would have loved to bring Victor back, anytime, anywhere. But, it wasn’t part of that narrative. I wonder if I’m getting a little long in the tooth, so to speak, but probably not for Sabretooth.”

Schreiber also spoke about when he took on the role to begin with for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, recalling how he understood the character’s motivations when considering his relationship with Logan. The actor also spoke about how he enjoys the birthday tradition the characters have in the Marvel comic books.

“[I was] trying to understand why Sabretooth is always coming after Wolverine. It’s like, ‘Why is he always coming at him?’ And for me, it made sense when these guys were pitching to me that they were related. That they were two sides of the same coin. I always loved that narrative arc from the comics that Sabretooth just shows up on his birthday every year to whoop his ass. I just thought, ‘You can put that anywhere.'”

Related: Logan Helmer James Mangold in Talks to Direct the DCU’s Swamp Thing Movie

Maybe Sabretooth and Logan Can Reunite in Deadpool 3?

It has since been revealed that Jackman will come back as Logan one more time after all, as he will reprise that role for the upcoming film Deadpool 3. That film will also star Ryan Reynolds, who first began playing Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine alongside Jackman and Schreiber. Perhaps there will be a chance Schreiber’s Sabretooth will pop up in that film after missing out on Logan. In any case, Schreiber is just impressed at the journey Reynolds has had with his Deadpool role.

“I mean, Ryan did such a great job with that transition, because I felt like it was in many ways so antithetical to who that character was in Origins, but I’m glad that Ryan was able to correct that mistake.”

Deadpool 3 is currently in production and will be released in theaters on Nov. 8, 2024.