Hugh Jackman's relatively obscure status as an actor made him immune to fan backlash after Wolverine casting.
Wolverine – Is he immortal?
Before Tim Burton's Batman legitimized the superhero experience on the big screen, the reception of Michael Keaton's casting was less than exciting, as fans initially did not see him as suitable for the role. Not much has changed since then, as fans expect actors to not only capture the spirit of their comic book counterparts, but also resemble them physically.
Fortunately, Hugh Jackman was immune to this backlash after being cast in Bryan Singer's X-Men, and he has his obscurity as an actor to thank for that.
In comics, Wolverine stands at 5.5 feet, which is a far cry from Hugh Jackman's 6.2 foot height. But considering he had just made his big screen debut just a year earlier with Erskineville Kings, not many had much knowledge of the Aussie lad, who was recommended for the role by Russell Crowe.
