Summary

• Universal's classic monsters are being resurrected through standalone movies, proven successful by The Invisible Man released in 2020.
• Julia Garner joins the cast of The Wolf Man, which is confirmed and still on the slate despite past turbulence.
• The Wolf Man's connection to the larger monster universe remains unclear, but a successful remake could lead to future tie-ins.

Another of Universal's classic monsters, The Wolf Man, is being remade, but not much is known about the long-gestating project. Ever since the failed Dark Universe, Universal has adopted a different plan to resurrect their classic monsters, which include characters such as Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein, and The Invisible Man. The studio decided to shift focus onto standalone stories over interconnectivity and shared cinematic universes, which has been difficult to achieve in the horror genre.

The first movie to be launched with these new stipulations and focus was Leigh Whannell's The Invisible Man, which was released in 2020. The scaled-back and creepy standalone horror movie proved to be a massive success and immediately proved the new direction for the monsters was working. Around that same time, the remake of The Wolf Man was also announced, but updates regarding the classic monster's return have been few and far between ever since.

The Wolf Man Latest News

Footage Premieres At CinemaCon

Not long after the movie's release date was moved, the latest news sees footage from The Wolf Man premiere at CinemaCon. Though principal photography only started in March 2024, Blumhouse was on hand at the yearly cinematic expo to give a few hints about the horror remake. The scenes open with a family being attacked by a creature in their home, and the patriarch (Christopher Abbot) is bitten by the beast, presumably launching the lycanthropic conflict of the movie. No other details were revealed, but more is expected closer to the release date.

The Wolf Man Reboot Release Date

The Wolf Man Howls In January 2025

With so many changes happening behind the scenes, it comes as no surprise that the remake of The Wolf Man will not meet its originally scheduled release date. For more than a year, the Blumhouse project was pegged for October 2024, but now that date has been shifted by nearly three months to accommodate major changes behind the scenes. Now, The Wolf Man will arrive on January 17, 2024.

The Wolf Man Reboot Cast

Who Stars In The Reboot?

Like the rest of the project, not a lot is known about the cast of The Wolf Man, though a few big names have been attached since Ryan Gosling departed. First, it was announced that Christopher Abbott (Sanctuary) would be stepping in to play the title character. Additionally, Ozark star Julia Garner has been added to the cast of The Wolf Man as an as-yet-unnamed mother who is attacked by the werewolf and must protect her family. More names are expected as the project gets closer to production.

Ryan Gosling was originally cast to lead the film but has since left the production.

How The Wolf Man Connects To The Monster's Universe

Do The Monster Movies Connect?

Ever since the failure of Universal Dark Universe, the state of the monsters has been somewhat unclear. The release of 2020's The Invisible Man proved that fans still wanted to see the Classic Monsters if they were given a fresh and modern twist. With that in mind, it makes sense that The Wolf Man has taken so long, since Blumhouse and Universal are probably trying to find the best way to expand the universe without overreaching.

As it stands now, it isn't known exactly how The Wolf Man remake fits into a larger universe or if it even does. Universal's Classic Monsters are renowned for creating the first cinematic universe, but that was after years of work and a slew of successful standalone movies. The most likely scenario is that The Wolf Man remake will be a singular work, and if it is a hit, it could be tied to other films later.

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  Wolf Man (2025)

  Director:

  Leigh Whannell

  Cast:

  Christopher Abbott

  Distributor(s):

  Universal Pictures

  Franchise(s):

  Universal Monsters

  Release Date:

  2024-10-25

  Genres:

  Horror

  Writers:

  Leigh Whannell, Corbett Tuck, Lauren Schuker Blum, Rebecca Angelo

  Studio(s):

  Blumhouse Productions