Is Hugh Jackman quitting Wolverine? Actor wears blades 'one last time' in Instagram photo

X-Men actor Hugh Jackman has hinted that he could be hanging up his Wolverine blades and quitting the action franchise after sharing a photo on Instagram claiming it was his "last" outing.

Fans of the action hero were sent into a frenzy when Jackman, 46, posted a photo of himself wearing the Wolverine blades on his hands with the caption: "WOLVERINE ... ONE LAST TIME. HJ."

The movie's director, James Mangold, responded to Jackman's post with a tweet but he did not appear to confirm the star's departure from the franchise.

An untitled sequel to 2013's The Wolverine has been scheduled for release in 2017 and it is widely speculated that this will be his last outing as the Marvel hero.

Oscar-winner Jackman, who will be starring in an upcoming Peter Pan film, is also expected to appear as Wolverine in the next X-Men movie, Apocalypse, which is slated for a 2016 release. It is possible that he will still appear in these films but will not star in his solo venture.

In an interview with IGN in September 2014, Jackman admitted that his reign as Wolverine will have to end one day and it may not be his decision.

"Every day I walk on the set with the claws and the hair, I thank my lucky stars. I'm sure, by the way, that it won't always be my decision to always be here. At some point, someone will close the door on me," Jackman said.

According to The Guardian, he also told reporters at the San Sebastian film festival in September 2013: "Great parts always outgrow the actors that play them. If you forget that, it's at your own peril. I've been doing it for 10 years."

The news comes as a surprise considering Jackman's last solo appearance as Wolverine proved to be a huge box office hit, grossing a staggering $414 million worldwide. The Les Miserables actor has starred as Wolverine seven times since his first appearance in the original X-Men movie in 2000.