TheWrap has exclusively learned of two key roles in the upcoming “Logan,” after a photo was released earlier today revealing Boyd Holbrook‘s role as Donald Pierce.
Last week, star Hugh Jackman and director James Mangold finally revealed the title for the film, and a poster that shows Logan’s clawed hand held by the small hand of a child.
The girl in the poster is a young mutant, an insider with knowledge of the production told TheWrap. In 2024, mutant births are severely in decline, and people aren’t sure why. “Logan’s” plot follows a government-type operation called “Transigen” that is turning mutant children into killing machines. Jackman ends up mentoring the girl, who has two claws instead of his three.
According to TheWrap’s insider, the young mutant girl is being played by Sienna Novikov and the character is named “Laura.” A two clawed mutant girl named Laura should ring a bell to fanboys because, multiple sources have confirmed the actress is in fact the mutant known as X-23.
Like Wolverine, X-23 has a regenerative healing factor, superhuman strength, senses, speed and reflexes. She also has retractable adamantium-coated bone claws in her hands and feet.
Meanwhile, Holbrook is playing Donald Pierce, “the head of security for a global corporation” known as Transigen. Earlier Monday, a photo was released on the movie’s official Instagram, which shows Holbrook sitting in a car with a caption that simply reads, “Pierce.”
We also learned about the mad scientist behind Transigen. According to our insider, Richard E. Grant plays Dr. Zander Rice.
In the Marvel comics, Dr. Rice was the surgical head of the project which created X-23. Dale Rice, Zander’s father, worked on the original Weapon X Project where he was killed by an escaping Wolverine as he fled with a briefcase full of information about the project. Years later, Zander — now called Dr. Rice — became the surgical head on a project to recreate the Weapon X procedure.
One last thing, according to our insider after being heavily rumored, the mutant known as Mr. Sinister will not appear in “Logan.” However that doesn’t rule out the possibility of a post credit scene.
A representative for 20th Century Fox did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
“Logan” will be released on March 3, 2017.
For more on these new characters, check out our gallery below.