'Wolverine 3' Cast, Plot News: Patrick Stewart May Appear as Guest

The third solo "Wolverine" movie will start filming early next year with Hugh Jackman back in the title role, said James Mangold, who will be coming back behind the camera to direct.

Before that, Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine in "X-Men: Apocalypse," which is set for theatrical release this May.

"Wolverine 3" will draw from elements in comic book stories but won't be set in any place already shown in any of the "Wolverine" and "X-Men" movies, Jackman told CinemaBlend in an interview.

"It does draw on some comic book stuff – there are some things. But in typical fashion, instead of... one main one [there will be] a few bits here and there, and then opening it up," said Jackman.

Earlier reports indicated that Sir Patrick Stewart may appear in a guest role in the next "Wolverine" solo film, hinting that the titular character and Professor X might team up for the film. This, however, is yet to be confirmed although it was Stewart himself who spilled the beans about his talks on a role in the movie.

"What I'm very excited about is that we have been talking about a Wolverine movie, which would team Hugh Jackman and myself together," Stewart said in an interview with Oregon Live.

"Wolverine and Professor Xavier – that would be a very different sort of X-Men from the four movies that I've already done," Stewart said.

Jackman said he would be thrilled to have Stewart on board the project. "That relationship is key, it's one of the keys. It was the key in the beginning and I think there's a long way to go," he said.

Mangold's third "Wolverine" movie is set to hit theaters in March 2017, the third in the line of upcoming "X-Men" movies after "Apocalypse" and "Deadpool." The screenplay will be written by David James Kelly.