Hugh Jackman's played Wolverine, most everyone's favorite screwed-up superhero, for 14 long years.

It's an enviable record of longevity in a Hollywood noted for the limited shelf life of its actors. Hugh, however, knows his luck won't last and is ready to give up the role any time.

Like Us on Facebook

He said that although he hasn't tired of playing the adamantium superhero, it's "inevitable" that he'll give up the role some day. He noted that most of his co-stars from the original X-Men trilogy starting in 2000 have been replaced in X-Men: First Class by younger actors.

Hugh is the only exception.

"I'm sure they had the discussion (about re-casting)," he told entertainment website IGN.

"They didn't mention it to me, obviously!"

"Look, that's inevitable, man," he went on. "Anyone who thinks they're indispensable in this business is fooling themselves.

"But I feel unbelievably blessed to have this part. I never thought in a million years I'd get to play him seven times.

"Every day I walk on the set with the claws and the hair, I thank my lucky stars. I don't take any of it for granted.

"To think that in a second version we'd have this cast and this director, and you guys don't know the script, but I would say probably the best script of all of them, is pretty amazing.

"I think that's why I'm still here. I'm sure by the way, that it won't always be my decision to always be here. At some point, someone will close the door on me.... (Laughs)"

Hugh feels has a few years left as Wolverine, but not much more than that. He was 31 when the first X-Men movie hit the screens in 2000. By the time The Wolverine 2 hits, he'll be almost 50.  There's a third Wolverine film due out in 2017 and Hugh will also star in this one.

If there will be a Wolverine 4, the talk in Tinseltown is that there are a number of hunks ready to wear Hugh's claws. There's Henry Cavill and Gerard Butler, among others. Rumors also have it that Bollywood action hunk Hritik Roshan might get a shot at the job. 

TagsHugh Jackman, Wolverine, retire, X-Men