Common’s New Wolf Man Is Extra of a Man Wolf, and Even That is Pushing It

The title monster from Leigh Whannell’s upcoming Wolf Man remake has seemingly made his debut at Common Studios’ annual hang-out occasion Halloween Horror Nights, and effectively, right here he’s, all people:

The Wolf Man from the upcoming Blumhouse movie has made his HHN debut! #HHN33 #HHN pic.twitter.com/ifIkz7giFJ

— HHNSpeculationMatt (@SpeculationMatt) September 4, 2024

In fact, the actor performing the character above is carrying what’s primarily a Halloween masks—the precise film will presumably supply one thing a bit of extra cinematic—however that is apparently our first have a look at Larry Talbot 2025.  Resembling a modestly extra sturdy Cryptkeeper, or maybe a flesh-colored orc from The Lord of the Rings, the rubbery “wolf man” seems to be extra like a recurring character on The Kids in the Hall than Rick Baker’s work on The Howling or An American Werewolf in London. The tattered cargo pants aren’t serving to issues a lot, both.

If Whannell, Blumhouse, and Common are in search of some kind of verisimilitude of their werewolf design, I’m unsure that is the suitable technique to go. Whether or not the creature is supposed to be the results of an ancestral curse or the sufferer of a mutative illness that jumped from wolf to man, deciding to  strip away the standard lupine options related to the monster besides the sharp ears was… a alternative. The ultimate outcome seems to be extra gnomelike than an uncanny fusion of canine and human.

In 2020, Whannell loved large success along with his new tackle The Invisible Man, however his Wolf Man has already confronted just a few hurdles. It was introduced final December that Christopher Abbot could be taking over the lead role from Ryan Gosling, who had already spent three years hooked up to the challenge. Previous to that, Whannell stepped away from directing the movie, with frequent Gosling collaborator, Derek Cianfrance (Place Past the Pines, Blue Valentine) coming aboard as a substitute. When Cianfrance in the end left the challenge, Whannell as soon as once more reclaimed directorial duties.

In fact, its additionally solely doable the werewolf on show at HHN is not Abbot-as-Larry Talbot, however as a substitute the (partially remodeled?) one who bites him, and even only a werewolf minion. Up to now, the only synopsis launched for Whannell’s remake says it considerations “A person [who] should shield himself and his household when they’re being stalked, terrorized, and haunted by a lethal werewolf at night time throughout a full moon.” A previous photo op at Universal additionally appeared to substantiate the household dwell on a farm. Maybe that is some kind of rival farmhand-turned-werewolf, who, come the complete moon, transforms right into a livestock-mutilating revenant, setting the course of the movie in motion? Regardless of the case could also be, he nonetheless seems to be like a gnome.

We’ll discover out extra when The Wolf Man arrives January 17, 2025.

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