D Day for Wolverine in explosive X-Men movie spin-off

Movie special effects wizards recreated the D-Day landings for the opening of the new Wolverine movie, which reveals the origins of the X-Men adamantium action man.

In the most spectacular wartime shoot since Saving Private Ryan, around 100 extras and reservists stormed the beaches near Newcastle, north of Sydney, Australia.

Many were deafened by the blasts and bruised as they fell 'dead' on what will pass for Omaha Beach when the film is finally edited for box office blockbuster release.

Among the troops was Logan (actor Hugh Jackman) and Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) who stormed a German machine gun nest.

Logan, of course, becomes Wolverine while Creed becomes his arch-enemy Sabretooth.

X Men Origins : Wolverine is due to claw its way into cinemas in May 2009.