Hugh Jackman wants to play Wolverine for life.

Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman tells Cigar Aficionado via that after watching Michael Keaton in Birdman, he had an epiphany on playing his X-Men character, saying “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.”

On preparing for future roles, Jackman says being in better shape is ideal. “I always want to be in better shape than I was for the last one,” he says.”I don’t believe in stagnation. People say they try to maintain the status quo. But I believe the natural cycle means you’re either advancing and getting closer to something or you’re receding.

“Every time I play Wolverine I want to go further, physically and emotionally.”

WOLV3RINE hits theaters on March 3, 2017.