In terms of modern-day cinema, few men are as synonymous with a role as Hugh Jackman is with everyone’s favourite furball, Wolverine. With a third solo outing on the way for Logan, Jackman has given an update on where things currently stand with what is being planned as his last dance as this legendary comic book favourite.

Speaking to Collider about the current status of Wolverine 3, Jackman said, “We have a script. A full script. Actually, two days ago, I got the full, full, full finished – I mean it’s not finished – but we’re getting super close, as you can see by the rate of my facial hair. That might also give you a clue that perhaps it’s sooner rather than later.”

After adding that he’s now up to eating six meals a day in preparation, the actor was then asked when he expects to start production. “I don’t have a firm date yet,” Jackman said. “My thing is, I’ve told you, and I’ve told everyone, it’s my last one. For me, I want it to be perfect. So the moment I know it’s perfect, bang, we’ll go.”

Given that Wolverine 3 already has a release date set for a little over 12 months’ away, chances are the film will go into production over the next month or two. James Mangold, director of The Wolverine, is back to helm Jackman’s Logan swansong. Plot-wise, details are being kept firmly under wraps at the moment, although there’s suggestion that the film will be some sort of adaptation of the famed Old Man Logan comic book arc. We do know for definite, though, that Patrick Stewart is on board, with his Professor X playing a pivotal part in the movie.

To date, Hugh Jackman has played the iconic Wolverine a whopping seven times since debuting as the character in Bryan Singer’s X-Men in 2000. Since then, the actor has appeared in X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, a fantastic cameo in X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and The Wolverine. Jackman’s turn in Wolverine 3 (which will likely have a title change before it’s released) will mark the actor’s eighth time in the role, and there’s even talk that he could very well appear in some form in this year’s X-Men: Apocalypse, next month’s Deadpool, and possibly next year’s Gambit, meaning Jackman’s time as Wolverine could clock in at an impressive eleven outings before all is said and done.

At present, Wolverine 3 is set for a March 3rd, 2017 release.