Wolf Man Director Discusses Ryan Gosling’s Original Involvement In The Universal Monster Movie And How Things Changed After Recasting

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During the summer of 2020, news broke that a new adaptation of “The Wolf Man” was being developed, with Ryan Gosling set to star. At the time, a director hadn’t been chosen yet, but pitches were still being considered for who would direct the film. The excitement built as it was announced that Gosling would take on the lead role, eager to embody one of cinema’s iconic transformations. However, due to the project’s prolonged development, Gosling eventually had to step down, with Christopher Abbott stepping into the role instead. With both actors gracing our screens this weekend, many are left wondering: what direction might a Ryan Gosling-led “Wolf Man” have taken, and how would it compare to the final product?

During my visit to the Wolf Man press day in Los Angeles earlier this month, I got to chat with director Leigh Whannell. Among other things, I asked about Ryan Gosling’s initial involvement and how the movie evolved following the recasting. Whannell shared that despite the cast changes, his vision for the film remained unaltered – not because of creative disagreements, but simply due to scheduling conflicts. In his own words, Whannell mentioned, “The shift was more about logistics than artistic differences.

Essentially, what you’re saying is that the current situation is very much like the one when you were working with Ryan. The isolation, the recurring characters – it’s all there. However, due to the passage of time and various events such as strikes, Ryan’s schedule shifted unexpectedly. Yet, I’m thrilled we managed to get Christopher Abbott on board. In my opinion, he excelled in the role beyond my expectations.

In 2020, Variety reported that Ryan Gosling was set to star in “Wolf Man,” with the script written by Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, similar to Jake Gyllenhaal’s thriller “Nightcrawler.” However, when Leigh Whannell joined in July 2020 with a new pitch, the previous screenplay was discarded. It wasn’t until December 2023 that Christopher Abbott was cast and an official plot summary was released, describing a story about a man whose family is being targeted by a dangerous predator.

Alongside Leigh Whannell’s original story concept, there was continuity in character development from Ryan Gosling’s performance as well. I inquired about how Blake, the main character of Wolf Man, was influenced by a different actor portraying the role, and the director clarified that the character growth with Christopher Abbott built upon the foundation established with the Barbie star.

Essentially, the main idea that I was collaborating with Ryan on remained consistent throughout. We made minor adjustments here and there, and Chris brought in some unique perspectives, but the fundamental concept stayed the same. It’s quite intriguing!

In the movie, Christopher Abbott’s character, Blake, is a married father who learns that his long-missing father has been declared deceased. To rekindle his relationship with his wife (Julia Garner) and enjoy a carefree summer with their daughter (Matilda Firth), they decide to journey to Blake’s rural Oregon childhood home. However, their peaceful trip takes a terrifying turn when they encounter a wild, menacing beast.

The ‘Wolf Man’ movie hits theaters this coming Friday, January 17th. Keep an eye out here at TopMob as we bring you more insights from my conversation with Leigh Whannell!

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2025-01-17 04:07