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'Deadpool & Wolverine' star Hugh Jackman spoke at Kevin Feige's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 6840 Hollywood Blvd. in front of the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California, USA. This video is available for editorial use in all media and worldwide. To ensure compliance and proper licensing of this video, please contact us. ©MaximoTV
'Deadpool & Wolverine' star Hugh Jackman spoke at Kevin Feige's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 6840 Hollywood Blvd. in front of the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California, USA. This video is available for editorial use in all media and worldwide. To ensure compliance and proper licensing of this video, please contact us. ©MaximoTV
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00:00Hugh Jackman!
00:04Hey, everyone!
00:07This is so weird.
00:09This goes against every theatrical instinct of my life,
00:12that I'm just going to turn away from everybody.
00:15In fact, I might just turn the whole thing around.
00:19Kevin, let me just say this.
00:21I'm not going to do this.
00:23I'm not going to do this.
00:25I'm not going to do this.
00:28Kevin, let me just say, this is so awesome,
00:30but if you have any Australian friends,
00:32do not tell them about this,
00:34because they will find it,
00:35and what they're going to do to it late at night.
00:37It's not right.
00:38It's just not right.
00:40All right.
00:41I'm so, so happy to be here today.
00:43There are so many things that make Kevin a success,
00:47but above all, he knows that to make a great movie,
00:50you need a great story,
00:52and I have one to share today
00:53that I think I might be uniquely qualified in telling.
00:56It's a Kevin Feige origin story.
00:59Don't worry, Mom and Dad.
01:01I'm not going back that far.
01:02It's okay.
01:03It's an I-knew-him-when story,
01:05because I first met Kevin 25 years ago
01:08on what was, for both of us, our very first movie.
01:11He was the assistant to the producer,
01:14Lauren Shuler, who is here today.
01:16By the way, if anyone wants to check it out,
01:20I want someone to check up.
01:21I don't know how many,
01:22but I think you must set a record, Lauren,
01:24for the amount of people who have worked for you,
01:26who have gone on to be leaders in this industry,
01:28and that is not a coincidence.
01:29You're a class act, me included, by the way.
01:32So anyway, he was the assistant to the producer.
01:36I'd been flown up to audition for X-Men,
01:38and I remember I was in L.A. at the time,
01:40and this stretch limousine pulled up at 5.30 in the morning.
01:43I'm like, wow, this is awesome.
01:45And even though I'm not actually getting to go into Disneyland,
01:49at least I'm going to arrive at the park in style.
01:52So I get there.
01:53I get ushered into the director's office at lunch,
01:56only to find out then that the movie had already been shooting
01:59for like two days, I think, when I did that first audition.
02:02And you know when an actor says,
02:03I knew I wasn't going to get the part?
02:05Well, I really knew I wasn't going to get the part.
02:07In fact, everybody knew I wasn't going to get the part
02:09because there just wasn't a part to be had.
02:12That's a long story, but I did my scene.
02:15As I left, Kevin was there, and he says,
02:18Hey, man, I'm going to give you a lift to the airport.
02:21And I said, Kevin, that's really, really sweet of you.
02:24You really don't have to do that.
02:26I really appreciate it, but I know I'm not getting the part.
02:29And I was also thinking at the time,
02:31what happened to the stretch limousine?
02:32I really wanted to go back in that.
02:35Anyway, Kevin says, no, no, I'm going to take you.
02:37So we get in the car, we're just chatting,
02:39and then all of a sudden he pulls over at a restaurant,
02:41and he gets out, and I'm like, Kevin, this is not the airport.
02:44And he goes, no, I'm not going to send you back on that plane
02:47without giving you some food.
02:49So anyway, now at this point, I know I'm not getting the part.
02:52Kevin knows I'm not getting the part.
02:54The waiter in the restaurant knows I'm not getting the part.
02:57But I'd flown, I'd been there from L.A. to Toronto for this audition.
03:02It's going to be 11 hours flying for the day.
03:04So Kevin, he just insists.
03:06He says, I want to give you a steak.
03:08So we go in to this steakhouse, and, you know, I'm an actor.
03:12It's free steak. I'm in, totally.
03:14And I just remember thinking to myself, this is a class act.
03:19He does not have to do this.
03:21And I don't know whether you felt sorry for me or whatever.
03:24He took the time to take care of me, and I will never, ever forget it.
03:29And then about five days later, all of a sudden the part became available.
03:32Like, it really actually became available.
03:34Sorry, Dougray.
03:36And I came back, and I auditioned, and spoiler alert, I got the part.
03:41And as we made the film, Kevin actually became a friend.
03:46Even way back then, I knew he was kind, he was trustworthy.
03:51No matter what, he was going to have my back.
03:53And I just figured this guy's never going to make it in showbiz.
03:56But I'd never read anything.
03:58I'd never read an X-Men comic at the time.
04:00When I got the part, he would slip me comic books.
04:02We'd hang out in his office.
04:03It was wall-to-wall toys.
04:05There was so much there, and he'd show me everything.
04:08There was no merch, because there was no merch on the movie.
04:10It was just literally toys from his own collection.
04:12And anyway, from those days of a free steak, comic book, toys, here we are.
04:19It's 25 years later, and this is kind of a full circle moment.
04:23So I was thinking, how can I, is there any way I can show my affection for this man today?
04:29Apart from saying a few words here.
04:31And then the idea came to me.
04:33So, hang on one sec, Kevin.
04:36I got you this gift certificate to Mastro's Steakhouse.
04:42Well, wait, this is not just any gift certificate.
04:44This is a full $15 gift certificate.
04:47Valid on Tuesdays between 3 and 3.30.
04:50Don't cry. It's okay.
04:52And I honestly would go with you, but I'm kind of like a massive movie star now.
04:57It wouldn't look good for me, so.
05:00I just can't.
05:01I just can't.
05:02So, but one other thing, Kev.
05:04I really want to say this, and I mean this.
05:06Ever since I've known you, you have a gift, many, many gifts.
05:10But you have a unique and extraordinary talent of making each project feel like it's the most exciting movie in the world.
05:18You make the best movie possible at every turn.
05:22You are generous, you are thoughtful, and you are like a Jedi, man.
05:25It's the mark of a great producer.
05:27It's why we are all here, gathered here, to celebrate your incredible legacy and the cinematic universe you have built over 16 years and counting.
05:37Congratulations, Kevin Feige.