Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf? Turns out, a lot of people, and that’s why the howling legend is making its big return to the big screen. However, before discussing the future of the werewolf, it’s essential to first go back to the past where it all began. What is the origin of the werewolf and how has its cinematic interpretation changed throughout time?

How to become a werewolf

How does someone actually turn into this lycanthropic beast? Apparently, according to cinematic history, there are a lot of ways. First and foremost is the simple bite of another werewolf. If that doesn’t kill you, the curse passes onto you, and the next full moon will be your downfall. This is the classic way, as depicted in films such as The Wolf Man (1941), Wolf (1994), and An American Werewolf in London (1981). If it’s not a bite, it could simply be a family curse that suddenly emerges at a crucial moment. This is the case in 1985’s Teen Wolf and Wolves (2014). Alternatively, there are werewolves with the ability to control their transformations, as shown in Twilight (2008) and Blood and Chocolate (2007). Thus, the werewolf curse is constantly evolving.

The pre-pubescent werewolf

Just another teenager going through puberty, except much more hair than usual, the werewolf became a staple for high school hormones. Led by Michael J. Fox, Teen Wolf depicts a high schooler who learns that his “becoming a man” is slightly different from others. Instead of the brutal violence associated with most werewolf movies, Teen Wolf is pure campy fun as Fox uses his newfound abilities to get the ladies and shoot some basketball hoops. Swinging to the opposite side of the pendulum, Ginger Snaps (2000) reveals a more gruesome side of teenage hormones. The bloody-good film emphasizes the changing body of a teenager through gut-wrenching body horror. Are you becoming a werewolf or is it just puberty?

The romantic werewolf

Over time, the once deadly and frightening legend became a romantic icon. Its monstrous and animalistic nature became lustful and luring. The Twilight sensation took over, and shirtless Taylor Lautner stole the hearts of all who witnessed his hunky physique. The werewolf was no longer perceived as dangerous but merely moody and misunderstood. Victims were running towards the werewolf instead of the other way. Moreover, the werewolf seemed to be in control of its transformations instead of waiting for a full moon. Other notable romantic werewolf films include Blood and Chocolate and Red Riding Hood (2011). This depiction eventually faded, and the werewolf went back to its original animalistic ways.

The werewolf abroad

Werewolves are not bound by borders. One of the most notable werewolves abroad would be in An American Werewolf in London. This werewolf runs rampant in Yorkshire and sets its eyes on two backpacking graduate students, David and Jack, from New York City. However, once David is bitten, the film then switches to a London setting, complete with Big Ben and double-decker buses. A hungry werewolf charging its way through downtown London is an unexpected and unique experience, that’s for sure. The film inspired a sequel, An American Werewolf in Paris (1997), with Big Ben being swapped for the Eiffel Tower, however the audience reception was quite poor in comparison to the film’s predecessor.

In Dog Soldiers (2002), a squad of British soldiers find themselves battling a new kind of enemy, an enemy none of their training could have ever prepared them for. The film takes place in the Scottish Highlands, complete with rough terrain and dark forests. The squad of soldiers do their best to camouflage themselves in their surroundings to hide from the beasts. This film follows the classic ritual of the wolf bite while also emphasizing PTSD and the brotherhood of soldiers.

With a more childlike innocence and sentimental approach, South Korea’s A Werewolf Boy (2012) portrays a feral boy in the quiet countryside of Korea. The scenery is beautiful and bright for the most part, mainly focusing on fields and flowers of the countryside instead of the darkness of the woods. The film is both heartfelt and heart-crushing, however, that’s not to say it lacks graphic scenes. The difference in werewolf portrayal here is that there is no curse, and wolf-boy Cheol-su’s situation is a result of genetic modification and feral isolation. It’s a significant and impactful approach to the werewolf abroad.

The wolf man

In 1941, Larry Talbot became an iconic addition to the Universal Monsters, along with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, and Frankenstein, to name a few. After the death of his brother, Larry Talbot returns to his father’s estate and finds himself cursed after an attack from a creature in the woods. On the palm of Larry’s hand is the “mark of the beast”, a pentagram, which is also referenced in 2004’s Cursed. This classic werewolf truly set the stage for future werewolf films to come and will soon be remade once again. In 2010, Universal Pictures brought Larry Talbot to the big screen once more, this time with Benecio Del Toro playing the titular character, along with a star-studded cast. Although maintaining its bloody and terrifying roots, this version of The Wolf Man focuses more on lycanthropy as a behavioral disorder and torturesome tactics to convince Larry, referred to as Lawrence, that everything is simply all in his head. Unfortunately, critics were not impressed, and the film was considered a financial failure. The future of The Wolf Man appeared bleak. Regardless, the film still earned an Academy Award for Best Makeup.

Now, producer Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions is taking a turn at breathing new life into the franchise. With an enviable amount of successful horror movies under his belt, including the Insidious and Purge franchises, this new take on the iconic beast may be the key to the character’s permanent return. With a 2025 release date, the plot has not been revealed fully, however, from the trailer and details provided, this new spin will be more family-oriented with a more modern approach.

The future of the werewolf

Besides the awaited Wolf Man remake, what else does this iconic character have in store? The Beast Within (2024) was released earlier this year which centers around a 10-year-old girl who discovers her father’s horrid secret and inner monstrosity. Coming to theaters in December of this year, Werewolves (2024) will focus on a genetic mutation which causes those in the moonlight of a supermoon to turn into monsters. Additionally, Happy Death Day (2017) and Freaky (2020) director Christopher Landon has been confirmed to helm a new werewolf movie currently titled Big Bad to be released sometime in 2025. The plot details have yet to be confirmed, although it is based on a short story.

With exciting new updates, it appears as though the werewolf is finally making its iconic return to the big screen. If the next few films prove to be successful, we could be seeing a lot more of this big bad wolf.