Few titles on the 2025 movie schedule have caught my attention, like the upcoming horror movie Wolf Man, and not always for the best reasons. The reboot stirred up a lot of conversation when early promotional material from a theme park tie-in surfaced. Like fans who took to social media to react, I was concerned that the design lacked the iconic elements that make the original cinematic lycanthrope so iconic. Now, the film's director is addressing the backlash and, honestly, I’m focused on his promise about the creature design.
Leigh Whannell, known for his work on The Invisible Man and Upgrade, didn’t shy away from addressing the backlash surrounding the forthcoming Wolf Man. During an interview with our sister site, SFX Magazine, the filmmaker clarified the misunderstanding while making a promise that’s sure to get fans of the best horror movies and cinema purists alike pumped about the flick. According to the moviemaker:
Things slipped through the cracks, and it was like, 'Oh, they're doing this promotion for Wolf Man at a theme park, but it doesn't look right. We shouldn't be putting that out in the world, because people are going to think that's what our wolf looks like.' My only response is to say, 'Look, that doesn't represent what we're doing.' All I can do is wait for the movie to come out. Then hopefully people will be like, 'Oh, I see what they were doing.'
The Saw star-turned-director reassured fans that the theme park promotion didn’t reflect the vision he and his team have for the creature. Not only that, but the Insidious: Chapter 3 helmer emphasized a key detail that has piqued the interest of classic monster movie aficionados: the Wolf Man’s design will be “100% practical, all make-up—there are no CGI elements.”
In an era where many blockbuster films rely heavily on computer-generated effects, Leigh Whannell’s decision to go old-school with practical effects feels like a love letter to the golden age of Universal Monsters and the best werewolf movies and shows.
Practical effects honor the legacy of classic creature features and provide a tactile, visceral quality that CGI often struggles to replicate. While the 2010 reboot of The Wolfman has its defenders, it was criticized, among other things, partly for its less-than-appealing CGI transformations and visual effects. Still, Whannell admitted that his approach won’t please everyone. He continued:
I think you have to bring a new approach. Maybe there are some people that won't like it because they love the traditional wolf too much, but that was the approach I wanted.
For fans of the original Wolf Man (1941) and its iconic monster design, this new take promises to deliver something fresh while staying true to the art of creature creation. While the initial backlash may have put Whannell on the defensive, his transparency and dedication to a practical, makeup-based design suggest that this reboot might breathe new life into one of horror’s most enduring legends.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Universal Monsters or simply curious about how this modern reboot will reimagine the classic creature, it’s clear that this new take is bold and respectful of the genre’s roots. All eyes will be on the Wolf Man when he finally steps out of the shadows and onto the big screen on January 17.
While fans anticipate Leigh Whannell’s latest Universal reimagining, they can stream his hit The Invisible Man, which now streaming with a Prime subscription. For those in the mood for a different kind of classic, the Saw franchise (which he helped launch) is also available to stream with a Max subscription.
