Wolf Man director teases his "100% practical" monster, as he admits "some people won't like it because they love the traditional wolf too much"

A screenshot of Christopher Abbott as Blake in the trailer for the upcoming movie, Wolf Man.
(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Wolf Man director Leigh Whannell says that not everyone will like the look of the titular beast in the upcoming film - as the effects are 100% practical.

"I think you have to bring a new approach," Whannell says in the new issue of SFX magazine, which features Star Trek spin-off movie Section 31 on the cover and hits newsstands on December 31. "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." The filmmaker also adds that the Wolf Man is "100% practical, all make-up - there are no CGI elements."

It's worth noting that, during the 2024 Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights event in Orlando, a performer in make-up took to the stage for a Wolf Man photo-op - which led many to believe that this was the official look for Whannell's movie.

"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,'" Whannell explains. "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.'" So, if you think you've seen the Wolf Man...you haven't.

The film stars Christopher Abbott as Blake, a family man who relocates from San Francisco to Oregon with his workaholic wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) after inheriting his childhood home. One night, Blake gets (unknowlingy) attacked by a werewolf and slowly begins to change...

Not a subscriber to SFX? Then head on over here to get the latest issues sent directly to your home/device!

Wolf Man releases on January 17, 2025. Read more in the latest issue of SFX magazine, which features Star Trek spin-off movie Section 31 on the cover and hits newsstands on Tuesday, December 31.

Lauren Milici
Senior Writer, Tv & Film

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for 12DOVE currently based in the Midwest. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

Read more
Julia Garner as 'Charlotte', Matilda Firth as 'Ginger', and Christopher Abbott as 'Blake' in Wolf Man
Wolf Man director explains why he didn't want too much werewolf lore in his new Universal Monsters horror movie
Wolf Man review: Christopher Abbott as Blake Lovell
Wolf Man Review: "A frightening and heartrending new horror take on an enduring monster"
Julia Garner as Charlotte and Christopher Abbott as Blake in Wolf Man
Wolf Man director on how his new horror movie was inspired by Denis Villeneuve's Sicario and Prisoners: "This isn't a fantasy, this is real"
Julia Garner as Charlotte and Christopher Abbott as Blake in Wolf Man
Wolf Man director explains how the new monster movie defies horror tropes through Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner's couple
A screenshot of Christopher Abbott as Blake in the trailer for the upcoming movie, Wolf Man.
Horror movie Wolf Man lands positive first reactions calling it "pulse-pounding" and "terrifying"
Stills from Leigh Whannell's upcoming horror movie Wolf Man
Horror marketing goes to the next level: Wolf Man is releasing in cinemas just days after 2025's first full moon
Latest in Horror Movies
Train to Busan passengers
Train to Busan director is returning to the horror sub-genre with a new movie described as the culmination of his zombie universe
John Lithgow as Dave Crealy in The Rule of Jenny Pen
John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush's twisted chiller is a much-needed shake-up to the horror genre, disrupting harmful elderly stereotypes embraced by the likes of X and The Shining
Kathryn Newton in Abigail
Marvel star joins former Scream directors for highly-anticipated upcoming horror sequel
Mickey 17
Robert Pattinson says he got so scared watching a horror movie that he fell asleep holding two kitchen knives: "I'm too sensitive"
Bambi in The Reckoning
Bambi decapitates a man, chases victims through the woods, and ruins your childhood in new trailer for twisted horror from the creators of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried as Jennifer and Needy in Jennifer's Body
16 years after it was released, cult '00s horror movie may be getting a surprise sequel: "We're working on it"
Latest in News
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in The Last Of Us season 2
The Last of Us showrunner says newcomer Kaitlyn Dever was "within The Last of Us DNA" before the show existed
The Witcher 4 screenshot with Ciri using sword and sorcery to fight an ancient monster
The Witcher 4 devs explain how Ciri's fighting style will differ from Geralt's: "He's nimble, but he feels like a block...she's liquid"
Challenging The Manacle in Balatro, which limits hand size by -1 and playing two Jacks
From "I stopped working on the project entirely" to "we are so back," Balatro creator says the roguelike's development was always about passion and taking breaks was essential
InZOI screenshot from creation studio demo which depicts a shockingly realistic character model rendered in Unreal Engine 5
The director behind The Sims competitor InZOI spent 20 years making MMOs, but he ditched the massive RPGs after playing life sims with his son
Demon Slayer season 4 episode 2
True to the anime, Stardew Valley's hottest mod adds two romanceable Demon Slayer dudes who are both "rude and standoffish" at first
A group of Men wearing armour during the TV show, Vikings.
Vikings creator is heading back to his Norse roots with this new historical drama on Amazon