The full moon will have to wait a little longer to shine on Universal’s latest attempt to revive their iconic Monsters franchise. Originally slated to unleash its savage fury on October 25, 2024, Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man has now pushed its theatrical release back to January 17, 2025, according to studio insiders.
The delay comes just weeks after principal photography commenced on the hotly anticipated remake. Despite the unfortunate schedule shift, anticipation remains high as Whannell looks to recreate the success of his 2020 critical and commercial hit The Invisible Man for Blumhouse.
Leading the cast is Christopher Abbott (Catch-22, Possessor) in the titular role, with Julia Garner (Ozark, Inventing Anna) also starring. Plot details are being closely guarded, but the film will reportedly follow a man whose family finds itself terrorized by a vicious, lethal predator.
Whannell is sharing writing duties with Corbett Tuck as well as Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo. Jason Blum is producing alongside executive producers Ryan Gosling, Ken Kao, Bea Sequeira, Mel Turner and Whannell himself.
For Universal, getting Wolf Man right is crucial after the disastrous Dark Universe attempt fizzled out following Tom Cruise’s The Mummy in 2017. While last year’s Renfield failed to revive the monster mash, Whannell’s fresh vision for The Invisible Man scored with critics and audiences alike, grossing over $122 million at the global box office.
The added breathing room should allow Whannell to put the proper finishing touches on what is clearly a make-or-break project for Universal’s Monster ambitions. All eyes will be on the director to deliver another transformative hit when the Wolf Man finally emerges from the shadows in January 2025.
