Hugh Jackman set to star in new Wolverine sequel

Hugh Jackman is set to hit the gym again with news a Wolverine sequel is in the works.

Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine in a scene from the hit film, "The Wolverine." Picture: AP/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporatio

Hugh Jackman is set to hit the gym again with news a Wolverine sequel is in the works.

Jackman is set to team up again with director James Mangold, who is in talks with Twentieth Century Fox to write and direct another Wolverine film, Deadline Hollywood reports.

Wolverine grossed more than $US400 million this year, making it the second-biggest X-Men movie ever, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Jackman's Wolverine character also has a key role in next year's X-Men: Days of Future Past.

The Aussie actor has previously talked about the lengths he went to in order to bulk up for his starring turn as Wolverine - following the 8-hour diet, where he has an eight-hour window to eat, followed by 16 hours of fasting to burn fat.

He was also given a strict diet and workout plan by Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, who ordered him to eat 6000 calories a day, Jackman told Men's Fitness. Jackman occasional posted photos of his massive meals and heavy lifting program to Twitter.

"There were times when I would literally eat with the mind set of working out. 'One more mouthful, one more come on, come on, you've got to finish this meal."

Wolverine - aka Logan - is a vicious killer, a mutant born with sharp claws that extend from his knuckles and a healing factor that repairs wounds and makes him virtually immortal.

Wolverine was recruited into a secret government program, his bones coated with an indestructible metal and his memory wiped. He eventually joined mutant superteam the X-Men to fight for good, but he continues to be tortured by his past and his animalistic nature.