Wolverine 3: Stephen Merchant goes bald for X-Men film role

The Office co-creator will star alongside Hugh Jackman and Richard E. Grant in the third solo spin-off for the X-Men character

Stephen Merchant is opting for a new look, ahead of joining the cast of Wolverine 3; the third installment in the X-Men character's own spin-off, solo franchise.

He'll be joining the returning likes of Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart, alongside Narcos actor Boyd Holbrook and Richard E. Grant, who's set to play a "villainous mad scientist".

Though there's no word on who Merchant is playing, The Office co-creator took to Instagram to post a video entitled, "An actor prepares #Wolverine 3". Ahead of the start of filming next month, the video shows the actor getting his head shaved completely bald, though that doesn't throw up any immediate hints as to what his role might be. A Professor X super-fan perhaps?

The film is set to be the last outing for Jackman's iteration of the iconic comic book character, as he officially reprises the role for an eighth time (though the latest X-Men: Apocalypse trailer hints it may actually be his ninth). A fact which has naturally led to rumours about a possible successor, further fuelled by reports the film is set to feature Wolverine's clone, X-23.

Wolverine 3 is set to hit UK cinemas 2 March 2017.