Fans Divided Over Universal’s First Look at Leigh Whannell’s ‘Wolf Man’

Fans Divided Over Universal’s First Look at Leigh Whannell’s ‘Wolf Man’

A Controversial First Look

Universal has given fans their first look at Leigh Whannell’s upcoming ‘Wolf Man,’ but not through traditional publicity methods like a photo, poster, or trailer. Instead, the reveal came via a character meet-and-greet at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. Given the popularity and history of the ‘Wolf Man’ franchise, reactions have been mixed, to say the least.

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

— HHNSpeculationMatt (@SpeculationMatt) September 4, 2024

Mixed Reactions from the Public

The new design for ‘Wolf Man’ is a drastic departure from the classic 1941 iteration and even the 2010 remake. It doesn’t resemble the familiar, wolf-like designs seen in films like ‘Van Helsing’ or ‘An American Werewolf in London.’ Social media reactions have been particularly vocal, with some fans expressing disappointment and others defending the new look’s context. For instance, horror podcast host Reyna Cervantes was less than impressed, while writer Richard Newby reminded fans to give the design a fair chance.

The Journey to the Big Screen

The road to bringing ‘Wolf Man’ to life has been anything but smooth. After the financial and critical failure of ‘The Mummy,’ Universal sought to resurrect their ‘Dark Universe’ with Blumhouse Pictures and Whannell’s successful ‘Invisible Man’ adaptation. Originally, actors like Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Gosling were considered for the lead role, but eventually, Christopher Abbott was cast, and Whannell took over the directorial duties.

Optimism Amidst Skepticism

While many are skeptical of the design, some believe it too early to judge. The Halloween Horror Nights character was likely a concept and not the final version. Whannell has already proven his mettle by turning ‘The Invisible Man’ into a critical and commercial hit, so there’s reason to hold out hope for ‘Wolf Man.’ The film is set to open in theaters on January 17, 2025, and only then will fans be able to fully judge the new vision for this iconic character.

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