Wolf Man Reboot: Everything You Need To Know

Another of Universal’s classic monsters, Wolf Man, has been remade, and the long-gestating project finally came to fruition in 2025. 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.

After the success of 2020’s The Invisible Man proved that standalone horror films still worked for the monsters, Universal quickly green-lit a remake of The Wolf Man, but the project stalled. Various production delays kept the hirsute nightstalker away from the big screen, and the high-profile departure of star Ryan Gosling was seemingly the silver bullet that would end the project for good. Fortunately, Blumhouse and Universal trudged ahead on the remake of The Wolf Man, and the lycanthrope returned in early 2025.

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Wolf Man Box Office & Critical Reception

Middling Reviews & Box Office DisappointmentThe Wolf Man lurks through bushes in the 1941 film

A few years after Blumhouse scored big with their stripped-down take on The Invisible Man, director Leigh Whannel’s monstrous return with Wolf Man was a significant disappointment. Earning a middling Rotten Tomatoes score in the 50s, the consensus seems to be that the horror remake lacks bite. Screen Rant was somewhat more positive than many other reviews, praising the movie for its creativity and exploration of the lore, but docking it for the underutilization of its larger themes. Empire echoed those sentiments, praising the technical execution of the movie but lamenting its lack of depth.

While this doesn’t necessarily spell doom for the movie, Wolf Man‘s reported budget of $25 million means it will need to make around $50 to break even after marketing and advertising costs.

On the money side of things, Wolf Man was an even bigger disappointment. Though it had a somewhat respectable domestic opening weekend of $12 million (via Box Office Mojo), it failed to win the MLK Day holiday weekend and actually lost to the underdog comedy, One of Them Days. While this doesn’t necessarily spell doom for the movie, Wolf Man‘s reported budget of $25 million (via Variety) means it will need to make around $50 to break even after marketing and advertising costs.
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Wolf Man premiered on January 17, 2025.

Wolf Man Cast

Who Stars In The Reboot?

The cast of Wolf Man is relatively small, though a few big names were attached after Ryan Gosling departed the project. First, it was announced that Christopher Abbott (Sanctuary) would be stepping in to play the тιтle character, Blake. Additionally, Ozark star Julia Garner joined the cast of Wolf Man as Charlotte, Blake’s workaholic wife who must protect her child from her husband’s lycanthropic changes. Matilda Firth plays Blake and Charlotte’s daughter, Ginger.

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

The cast of Wolf Man includes:

Actor

Wolf Man Role

Christopher Abbott

Blake


Christopher Abbott

Julia Garner

Charlotte


Julia Garner looking curious in Ozark

Matilda Firth

Ginger


Matilda Firth talks on the phone with a worried expression in Wolf Man

Sam Jaeger

Grady


Sam Jaeger as Peter looking angry in Devil in Ohio.

Ben Prendergast

The Werewolf


Ben Prendergast looks directly at the camera while posing against a grey backdrop

Benedict Hardie

Derek


Benedict Hardie holds his hands up with a smirk while a gun is pointed in his face

  • Why The Wolf Man Looks So Different In 2025’s Movie
  • Is Wolf Man Connected To The Invisible Man?
  • Wolf Man Cast & Character Guide

Wolf Man Trailers

Watch The Terrifying Trailers Below


Christopher Abbott in Sweet Virginia and Jon Chaney Jr. as The Wolf Man
Custom Image by Cooper Hood

In anticipation of the movie’s 2025 premiere, Universal has dropped a brief teaser for Wolf Man. Opening with bugs fighting in the lush woods of Oregon, the teaser then introduces the family as they visit the remote cabin. Things immediately turn dark as Blake begins to suffer from a dangerous transformation. While trying to keep her deteriorating family unit together, Charlotte must protect her daughter from the violent creature that her husband is becoming.

During 2024’s New York Comic Con in October, a full trailer for Wolf Man was revealed. The nearly three-minute trailer opens with a frightening scene as Blake and his family are attacked by something after crashing their large moving van. Hiding from the beast in a nearby abandoned farmhouse, Charlotte must protect her daughter from Blake as he slowly begins to transform into the werewolf. Unlike previous werewolf movies, Wolf Man seems to be recontextualizing the story as a body horror tale.

Wolf Man Ending & Spoilers

A Tragic Conclusion Shuts The Door On Franchise Hopes


Christopher Abbott looking afraid while a young girl covers her eyes in Wolf Man trailer
Custom image by Fariba Rezwan

While monsters always find a way to return somehow, it’s unlikely that Whannel’s lycanthrope will be howling at the moon in the future.

The ending of 2025’s Wolf Man is a bitter climax to the movie’s central themes, and it also pretty much shuts the door on any hopes of a sequel. Like The Invisible Man, the purpose of Wolf Man is to explore an idea outside the basic horror concept of the film, and Wolf Man‘s ending is appropriately grim. Nothing is left unsolved, and even the movie’s ongoing mystery is wrapped up nicely. While monsters always find a way to return somehow, it’s unlikely that Whannel’s lycanthrope will be howling at the moon in the future.

  • 2025’s Wolf Man Puts A New Twist On The Werewolf’s Fate
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  • Wolf Man’s Face Of The Wolf Disease Explained

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