Wolf Mandirector Leigh Whannell explains how his upcoming film is related to his previous work,The Invisible Man(2020). Starring Christopher Abbott as Blake,Whannell’sWolf Manrebootfollows a father and his family during a full moon as they are stalked by a werewolf, with Blake soon beginning to exhibit signs of becoming a beast himself. Whannell is no stranger to rebooting Universal monster movies, as, after making the sci-fi thrillerUpgrade(2018), he releasedThe Invisible Man, which earned positive reviews for its inventive new take on the classic tale.
In a recent interview withEmpire, Whannel explains howWolf Manis related toThe Invisible Man. According to the director, he took a similar approach withWolf Manas he did with his previous Universal monster movie in the sense thathe’s not attempting to make a throwback film, and is instead attempting to do something radically different with a classic character. He also teases that, whileThe Invisible Manmay have been horror-adjacent, his new movie leans fully into the genre. Check out Whannell’s comments and a new image of Abbott in the film below:
“I was watching a lot of domestic thrillers when I wrote The Invisible Man, because I love that genre. [Wolf Man] is me saying, ‘I just wanted to make something that is straight-up, pure horror.’”
“I think of it as a companion piece to The Invisible Man. I didn’t want this film to be a nostalgic or a retro Wolf Man film in any way. [I was] actually writing down in my notepad everything that’s been done, and then saying, ‘Okay, that’s the list of what not to do. I’m hoping that you go in and say, ‘Oh wow, I haven’t seen that werewolf movie before,’ when the lights come up.”
What Leigh Whannell’s Update Means For Wolf Man
How Was The Invisible Man Received?
Prior to the release ofThe Invisible Man, there was a degree of uncertainty regarding whether this reboot would be able to deliver.The Mummy(2017), after all, which was intended to launch a new “Dark Universe,” was a disappointment critically and commercially.The Invisible Man, however, likeUpgradebefore it, was a hit with audiences and critics. The film currently enjoys a strong 92% onRotten Tomatoesand grossed $144 million worldwide on an estimated budget of only $7 million.
After the success of the first film,The Invisible Man 2was confirmedto be in development. Star Elizabeth Moss confirmed earlier this year thatWhannell’s sequel is close to happening.
If Whannell is taking the same approach withWolf Man, his track record thus far is certainly reason to be optimistic. As he also showed withUpgrade,which was made on an estimated budget of only $3 million, he can do a lot with a little, andWolf Mansounds from the premise alone to be a relatively contained film about one family.
What Christopher Abbott’s Wolf Man Looks Like
2025’s Wolf Man movie puts Christopher Abbott in the lead role, but the character’s design is new. Here’s how its different from the previous movies.
Prior toWolf Man, the previous take on the Universal character was released in 2010 withThe Wolfman,a film that failed both critically and commercially. Instead of hearkening back to previous incarnations of the titular beast, which most younger audiences won’t be familiar with anyway,Whannell’s decision to push the franchise forward into new territory could help the film strike a chord with viewers.
Our Take On Whannell’s Wolf Man Tease
Why The Film Is One To Look Forward To
The firsttrailer forWolf Manwas careful not to reveal too much, and Whannell’s latest tease is certainly one that makes the film all the more exciting. BothUpgradeandThe Invisible Manflirted with horror, the latter especially, butWhannell has a rich history in the genre, having helped birth theSawfranchise alongside James Wan.
Whannel’s filmography, combined with the impressiveWolf Mancast, which includes Emmy and Golden Globe winner Julia Garner, makes the film an anticipated 2025 release. IfWolf Mansucceeds, it could also prove that there’s more life left in these classic Universal monsters than 2017’sThe Mummywould suggest.
Wolf Man
Cast
Wolf Man, released on July 25, 2025, follows Blake and his wife Charlotte as they visit his secluded childhood home in rural Oregon. After a mysterious animal attack, they become trapped inside, and Charlotte is forced to confront Blake’s disturbing transformation amidst growing tension and fear.
