What with The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises and all the good superhero movies we’ve had lately, Wolverine has sort of gotten lost in the anticipation shuffle (there’s also the matter of the last X-Men movie being a prequel that took place without him). But as you can see from these set pictures from New South Wales (Australia), there’s still a Wolverine movie being directed by James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma) set for July 2013 (the sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine), whether anyone wants one or not.

In the film, Logan begins a forbidden romance with a Japanese woman whose hand in marriage is, unfortunately, promised to another man. Since Logan won’t take “no” for an answer, it puts him into battle with her father and her samurai-sword-wielding brothers and Silver Samurai. [SuperheroHype]

And at some point, apparently, Wolverine grows a big beard and moves to a logging town to get a blue collar job and avoid his superhero responsibilities. …Really, screenwriters? We’re doing this one again? The thing where the protagonist’s selfish refusal to accept responsibility is represented by his facial hair? Even The Dark Knight Rises had that. Man of Steel has it, and that’s not even out yet (I think he’s a fisherman in that). At this point, it’d be easier to count the superhero movies that don’t have that scene. Screenwriters desperately need to find another visual shorthand for “protagonist accepts his responsibility” that doesn’t involve cutting his hair and shaving his mountain-man beard. You guys have any ideas? I was thinking something involving a foam cowboy hat, but I haven’t really fleshed out the details.

[pictures from WENN via SuperheroHype]