Hugh Jackman hints Wolverine 3 will be his last as the Marvel X-Men mutant

He has played the role since 2000

Hugh Jackman bears his claws and loses the plot in X-Men movie 'The Wolverine' (Twentieth Century Fox Film)

Fans of Wolverine should get the tissues ready.

Actor Hugh Jackman has hinted that he will be bowing out of the Marvel comic book franchise after the third Wolverine film.

The 46-year-old Australian star posted a photo of his right hand with the famous adamantium claws and the caption: "WOLVERINE ...ONE LAST TIME. HJ" on Instagram yesterday.

Jackman has been playing the role of the mutant since 2000 when he appeared as Wolverine in the first X-Men film.

Since then a slew of sequels and a prequel have been released, including two spin-off Wolverine films X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009 and The Wolverine in 2013.

Fans of the star left comments underneath the post in reaction to the news. Instagram user franciosilorenzo wrote, "Logan forever!!!!!", while eoc86 posted, "You will be the only and the best wolverine forever!!!!!!!! Love Logan!!!!!"

Jackman last played the role of Wolverine in X-Men: Days of Future Past last year, in which the character was required to go back in time and convince a young Charles Xavier to help him change events to save the world.

The final and as yet untitled Wolverine film is expected to be released in 2017 and Patrick Stewart has hinted that he will be appearing in it.