A gym manager from Henley bumped into Wolverine star Hugh Jackman while he was shooting a mystery-comedy film across the border from Oxfordshire. 

Mr Jackman has spent the last few months balancing promotional commitments for Marvel’s new Deadpool and Wolverine blockbuster with filming Three Bags Full alongside Emma Thompson in Hambleden in Buckinghamshire. 

The 55-year-old Aussie managed to keep in trim shape despite his busy schedule by popping a few miles up the road to Henley and catching the staff at Focus Gym in Badgemore Park off-guard by making it his go-to workout spot for almost the whole of June.

Gym manager Jules Greenaway said Mr Jackman is only the second big-name celebrity to unexpectedly grace Badgemore Park - the first being Orlando Bloom last year, who stayed steadfastly under the radar and "just did his own thing”.

By contrast, Mr Jackman was “very happy to chat to staff and members”, with 41-year-old Mr Greenaway describing him as “a gentleman who was so friendly and lovely to talk to”.

He added: “We’ve had quite a few influencers in but not many real celebrities. I was very starstruck – one day I just looked up from my desk and Wolverine was standing there.

"I grew up watching his films, so it was very humbling.”

(Image: Jules Greenaway) Mr Jackman was also “more than happy” to take photos with anyone asking – hence the several smiley shots uploaded to the gym’s social media earlier this month.

Although the Golden Globe winner politely declined the manager’s offer to do a workout with him, citing his established regime with a presumably A-lister-approved trainer back home, Mr Greenaway said he was glad the gym facilities could “support (Jackman) in his fitness routine”.

 

"There were specific exercises he was doing as part of a rehabilitation programme after some recent injuries. He would come in about six days a week and generally do a mix of strength training and rowing."

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story, also starring Thompson, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon and Nicholas Braun, follows the sleuthing work of a herd of sheep after the murder of their shepherd, played by Jackman.

It’s one of several big-budget productions to descend upon the small village between Henley and Marlow in the last few decades, with others including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 101 Dalmatians and Into the Woods.

According to Deadline, Three Bags Full will be released in cinemas on February 20, 2026.