It looks as though one of our biggest hero franchises – Wolverine – is heading to the glitz of the festival circuit. Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) has announced that James Mangold’s Logan will have its world premiere out of competition. Logan stars Hugh Jackman, reprising his title role in the franchise’s first ever R-rated outing. As seen in the still above, Patrick Stewart will also be making an appearance as the X-Men Professor and mentor, Charles Xavier. Stephen Merchant (TV’s Hello Ladies), Doris Morgado (2 Guns) and Boyd Holbrook (Gone Girl) also co-star.
Another big title set for competition is Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting sequel, T2 Trainspotting, in its international premiere. The film will see all the original cast with Ewan McGregor, Kelly Macdonald, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, and Ewen Bremner.
Another film out of competition is Gurinder Chadha’s (Bend it Like Beckham) period drama Viceroy’s House, starring Gillian Anderson (TV’s The X-Files), Michael Gambon (Gosford Park), Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), and the late Om Puri (Ghandi) in one of his final roles.
Also in the lineup are Spanish director Alex de la Iglesia’s The Bar, German director Volker Schlondorff’s Return to Montauk starring Stellan Skarsgard, Korean director Hong Sangsoo’s On the Beach at Night Alone, Austrian actor Josef Hader’s directorial debut Wild Mouse, German director Thomas Arslan’s Bright Nights, Brazilian director Marcelo Gomes’ Jaoquim, and avant-garde Japanese director Sabu’s Mr. Long.
Berlin also announced three special gala screenings: Sam Garbarski’s Bye Bye Germany, German director Matti Gerschoneck’s In Times of Fading Light, and Czech director Julius Sevcik’s A Prominent Patient.
The 67th Berlin International Film Festival begins in February. The full lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.