Watching the trailer for the new Wolverine video game, due in 2026 for the PlayStation 5, has really struck a chord…
WOLVERINE (2026)
As you will see, the game signals a departure from the more family-friendly tone of Insomniac’s Spider-Man series, more like the 2017 film Logan. Wolverine is a character whose core identity is tied to his brutal, violent nature. The decision to include a high level of gore, with dismemberment and blood, is an attempt to be “comic-accurate” to a specific, more mature interpretation of the character. For some fans, this is a welcome embrace of the character’s darker side. For me, it crosses a line into gratuitous violence that detracts from the storytelling, making it uncomfortable and at times unpleasant to watch.
A BALANCING ACT
A film like The Dark Knight (2008) struck a perfect balance between grounded realism and larger-than-life characterisation. The film’s strength lies in its ability to present a world that feels as if it could exist. All while still embracing the fantastical elements of its source material. The stakes felt genuinely high and the conflict felt real. As if Batman and Joker were truly battling for the soul of Gotham City and not just engaging in a brawl. This sense of tangible danger is what made the film so compelling and cemented its place as a classic in the genre.
TERRIFYING AND CAPTIVATING
A key part of the film’s success, was Heath Ledger’s Joker, who was both terrifying and captivating. His unpredictability was his most chilling trait. The idea that he acted purely out of a chaotic impulse, without a clear motive like money or power, made him a truly frightening antagonist. This portrayal transcended the typical villain archetype, presenting him as a force of nature. A truly anarchic entity. The unpredictability and nihilism of Ledger’s Joker resonated deeply, as his character felt like a genuine, modern-day threat.
Despite his terrifying nature, you also found Ledger’s Joker to be wildly entertaining and incredibly cool. His magnetic performance, sharp dialogue, and unpredictable actions created a villain who was as fascinating to watch as he was disturbing. His charisma was equal to his repulsive actions. The ability to be both horrifying and charismatic, is what made him so memorable. And distinguished him from more one-dimensional villains.
STYLE
Crucially, the film’s portrayal of violence was handled in a more effective manner. While the movie explored dark themes with moments of brutality, it avoided being overly graphic or gratuitous. The violence was implied rather than shown in detail. It allowed the film to maintain its serious tone without becoming a gore-fest. This stylistic choice respected the audience… Ultimately, trusting them to understand the horror of a situation without needing explicit visuals.
LESS FANTASTICAL = LESS APPEALING?
In essence, you feel that Christopher Nolan succeeded by presenting a story with a mature, psychological depth that grounded it in reality, while still retaining the stylised, entertaining elements of a comic book narrative. The film was able to explore the dark consequences of a character like the Joker without resorting to excessive violence. It managed to be gritty and realistic, yet still cool and entertaining, which is why it stands out as a masterful example of the genre. By contrast, Todd Phillips’ Joker (2019) didn’t really need to exist in a comic book world. A sad excuse to get a film made with a guaranteed audience. Demonstrating that when a story is stripped of its fantastical elements, it can become a reflection of reality that is simply too harsh for comfort. One I don’t want to spend too much time lost within.
And I just don’t want to feel that way about Wolverine, too…