Jeff Davis' new series Wolf Pack was initially thought to be a Teen Wolf spin-off, but the two shows are very different, making Wolf Pack's release date key to its success. Wolf Pack is the latest television series by creator Jeff Davis, who also famously made Teen Wolf and the crime procedural show Criminal Minds. Based on the eponymous young adult novel series by Edo van Belkom, Wolf Pack follows teenagers Everett (Armani Jackson) and Blake (Bella Shepard) in the wake of a California wildfire, which awakens a terrifying supernatural force. Also starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Wolf Pack releases on Jan. 26, 2023, via Paramount+.
Available To Stream On Paramount+
Despite popular belief, Wolf Pack and Teen Wolf are entirely different shows. To many's dismay, the MTV series Teen Wolf was canceled in September 2017 after six seasons. However, the Teen Wolf universe didn't fully come to a close, as Jeff Davis announced in September 2021 that there would be a Teen Wolf revival in the form of a movie, which is also set to premiere on Jan. 26, 2023, on Paramount+. The fact that both the Teen Wolf movie and Wolf Pack are releasing on the same day caused some confusion among audiences, making many believe that the latter would be a spin-off or a continuation of Teen Wolf. However, releasing both projects on the same day could be vital for Wolf Pack's success.
Wolf Pack Sharing A Release With The Teen Wolf Movie Helps Its Chances
The biggest bullet Wolf Pack has in its arsenal, besides Sarah Michelle Gellar, of course, is that it's releasing the same day as the Teen Wolf movie, meaning there's already a pre-sold audience. People are much more likely to tune into the new series after watching the Teen Wolf movie, as the latter has been sold as a setup for Wolf Pack. Since Jeff Davis' two products are being released at the same time and on the same streaming service, it'll be an easy jump for audiences to relive the glory days of Teen Wolf and then at least give the new werewolf series a try.
Coupling the Teen Wolf movie and the Wolf Pack TV show together is a smart move on the showrunners' part, as it already gives the new Wolf Pack cast an audience they might not have had without the Teen Wolf revival film. The book series on which Wolf Pack is based isn't necessarily a widely-known tale, meaning that Davis would have to find a way to entice viewers into a new story. What better way to bring people in than to piggyback off of one of his most well-known and beloved TV shows, giving Wolf Pack a bigger audience base right out of the gate?
Wolf Pack Can Succeed Teen Wolf (Even If It's Not The Same Series)
Despite Wolf Pack being tethered to Teen Wolf by its release date, the two are markedly different series. However, it's better that Sarah Michelle Gellar's Wolf Pack isn't a Teen Wolf spin-off. The Wolf Pack trailer has a much darker tone than Teen Wolf, arguably a campier show. In addition, it doesn't look as though Wolf Pack will include the same avenues that Teen Wolf explored, such as different types of supernatural creatures like werecoyotes or kitsune. Instead, Wolf Pack looks to be entirely werewolf-centric, and the stakes seem to be way higher. Wolf Pack being different from Teen Wolf could arguably work in its favor, showcasing the different routes that a good werewolf series can take.
Giving the Teen Wolf movie and Wolf Pack the same release date carries over the audience from the former to the latter, and despite the two shows being very different, the premiere date is the glue that holds the two together. Likely, audiences will at least want to give Jeff Davis' new series a try after enjoying the Teen Wolf revival movie and its returning cast, no matter how different it looks. From what the trailer reveals, Wolf Pack is an exciting new endeavor in the supernatural teen drama genre, and it has all the makings to succeed the MTV show.