Wolf Man Described As A “Companion Piece” To New Invisible Man Film

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As a seasoned film enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of many monster movie reboots, I find Leigh Whannell’s approach to the Wolf Man reboot intriguing. Having seen my fair share of werewolf films, I must admit that I am eager to witness a fresh take on this classic Universal creature. Whannell’s commitment to avoiding tropes already explored in previous iterations is refreshing and promises an authentic cinematic experience.

Leigh Whannell’s new project, titled “Wolf Man“, represents his latest endeavor in reimagining Universal’s classic monster movies following the success of his 2020 reboot of The Invisible Man. Originally slated to star Ryan Gosling, the movie has gone through multiple stages of development and is now set for release next year. Whannell characterizes his version of “Wolf Man” as having a kinship with his previous monster film.

As I sat down with Empire for an exclusive chat, I unveiled my exciting new project – the reimagining of the classic Universal monster film, “Wolf Man.” Following the success of my previous venture, “The Invisible Man,” this movie will once again showcase my unique take on reviving these timeless characters. Contrary to popular belief, neither movie shares a connection in terms of their universes.

In my perspective, this film serves as a complementary piece to “The Invisible Man.” My intention was to avoid creating a nostalgic or vintage-style “Wolf Man” movie. Instead, while jotting down notes, I made a conscious effort to list all the previous elements and then note, “Here’s what not to do.” I hope that when you watch it, your reaction will be, “Wow, I’ve never seen a werewolf movie like this before,” as the credits roll.

Wolf Man is Going Back to Basics

Following the disappointing debut and premature end of the Dark Universe, future Universal monster films will focus on standalone projects. For instance, after “The Invisible Man,” the upcoming “Wolf Man” by Whannell is a self-contained horror movie featuring new characters. Producer Ken Kao discussed with Screen Rant about this fresh strategy for revamping Universal’s legendary monster collection, departing from the unsuccessful attempt to mimic the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

From an outside perspective, The Mummy’s Dark Universe seems to have adapted its approach in reaction to the surge of superhero movies – like the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and DC Extended Universe. There’s been quite a bit of discussion about these universes recently. In essence, it appears to follow more of a ‘Joker-style’ strategy. Given that Blumhouse is skilled at creating contained pieces, I believe this method makes more sense for them.

In a different setting, Christopher Abbott plays the role of Blake, a San Francisco resident who is both husband and father. After his father, supposedly deceased, leaves behind their rural Oregon home as an inheritance, Blake convinces his busy wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), to escape the city for a while and explore this country property with their daughter, Ginger (Matlida Firth).

However, when the family arrives at the farmhouse under cover of darkness, they’re suddenly pounced upon by a hidden beast, prompting them to frantically barricade themselves inside for safety as it circles the premises. As the long hours of night pass, though, strange behavior from Blake becomes increasingly evident, leading Charlotte to question whether the turmoil within their home is more dangerous than whatever lies outside their door.

Wolfman
is set to hit theaters on January 17, 2025.

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2024-09-23 21:31