There was much speculation as to whether there would ever be a third installment in the Wolverine solo films. However, the truth was revealed in an unconventional way on Thursday. In response to a fan's question when Wolverine 3 will start filming, director James Mangold said, "early next year."

The statement was very straightforward and nothing else has been said about the film. Fans do know that Mangold will direct the film, as he directed the first Wolverine solo film. Nothing is known about the plot except that Wolverine will have encounters with Professor Xavier, who is played by Patrick Stewart.

Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine. In the past, fans and the Hollywood community alike questioned as to whether Jackman would play the X-Men character. The role constantly calls for a lot of physical activity, something that Jackman can't keep up forever.

However, Jackman told Entertainment Weekly last month that he wants to play Wolverine until he dies. He says the inspiration to continue to role came after watching Michael Keaton's performance in Birdman.

Jackman said, "I said to my wife, 'The moral is that I should never stop playing Wolverine. I've got to find a way to keep playing him until I die.' I know that someday they'll recast the role with another actor...I'd be happy if the role was eventually recast. It would mean that it had become iconic."

The Wolverine character made its way back into the limelight with 20th Century Fox's highly successful X-Men: Days of Future Past. The character is also set to appear in X-Men: Apocalypse, which is set for release on May 23, 2016. Wolverine 3 is slated for March 3, 2017, according to Collider.