Hugh Jackman may be the hardest-working man in showbiz.
The star of “X-Men: Days of Future Past” has been in countless countries in the last week promoting the film — and last night introduced a VIP screening in New York.
Jackman, along with his co-stars James McAvoy and Famke Janssen, mingled with Anna Wintour, Darren Aronofsky, Roger Ailes and Ivanka Trump at the event hosted by Rupert and James Murdoch and 21st Century Fox.
“The Wolverine” star Jackman told the crowd, “I can’t believe it’s 15 years since we began this journey, ‘X-Men’ came out in 2000, we were filming it in ‘99. To everyone who brought kids tonight, remember, cheer and yell and scream, because that is what happens with these movies, I’ve been in the theaters on opening night … when you see ‘X-Men’ fans, it is unbelievable.”
Of the film, which opens Friday, he added, “We loved making this movie, I have done all seven movies, and I think this is the best of the lot.”
Of working with acclaimed actor McAvoy, Jackman continued,“His performance is phenomenal … the very first day of filming he had to do a three-page scene opposite Sir Patrick Stewart. The tightrope couldn’t have been higher, the pressure couldn’t have been more, and I’ve never seen someone crush it more than this man. He’s one of the great actors going around today.”
Others at the Crosby Street hotel reception and screening included astrophysicist and “Cosmos” host Neil deGrasse Tyson, who proved as popular as Jackman, with many guests asking for photos, Deborra-Lee Furness, Helena Christensen, Rosanna Scotto, Nicole Miller, Paul Haggis, Dave Zinczenko, June Ambrose, Olivier Theyskens, Caroline Rhea, Luke Janklow and Fox News’ Neil Cavudo, with his sons Jeremy and Bradley, of whom he said, “They know every word of the ‘X-Men’ movies.”
CNN “New Day” host Chris Cuomo arrived at the last minute with his young son Mario, who was overjoyed to unexpectedly bump into Jackman. The actor posed for pictures before serving him candy, adding, “You need some for the film.”