AceShowbiz - James Mangold didn't hesitate too much when it came to killing off Wolverine in his film "Logan", because he knew the final movie in the franchise had to bring some "closure" to the embattled mutant's story.

Hugh Jackman reprised the role of the clawed hero for one final time in the 2017 film, which ended with his alter ego's tragic death.

While the plot came as a huge shock to fans, many of whom complained at the way the film had ended, director Mangold has now defended his decision, insisting Wolverine's death was entirely necessary.

Speaking to ComicBook.com about how he first pitched the idea of the controversial conclusion, Mangold explained: "The process is a lot less of a committee than you'd think. It was really Hugh (Jackman) and I at first. It seemed logical, that if it were going to be his last film, that he's either going to ride off onto the horizon or die, that you need to have some kind of curtain on his story."

"You either have the Shane (1953 Western) ending where he rides off on the mountain to parts unknown, which had largely been the way his character was resolved in every preceding movie, or you'd kill him."

"But the reason the choice was at our feet was because you needed the sense of closure. You needed some sense of an ending if you were going to end, if you were dealing with the legacy of Hugh's many performances and many films, and trying to set this part in some definitive way."

Jackman starred as Wolverine for 17 years before his final outing in 2017, with his first appearance coming in "X-Men" back in 2000.

However, in a previous interview, the actor insisted it was "time" for him to bid farewell to the character and the franchise as a whole.

"It's just a matter of time. It's a bit like you're at the greatest party you've ever been at, you've been dancing for an hour and a half, and then you're just like 'It's time, ok. If I stay any longer, it's gonna get ugly.' It's like, it's time," he said.