Questions
When did The Wolfman come out and who directed it?
It was released on February 12, 2010, and was directed by Joe Johnston. It is a remake of Universal’s 1941 classic The Wolf Man.
Who starred in the movie?
Benicio del Toro played Lawrence Talbot, alongside Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, and Hugo Weaving.
What is the movie about?
An actor returns to his English ancestral home after his brother’s murder, gets bitten by a werewolf, and becomes cursed, with only a loved one able to break the spell.
Is it true the director joined at the last minute?
Yes. Joe Johnston stepped in just four weeks before filming began, after original director Mark Romanek left in January 2008 over creative differences.
Did The Wolfman win any awards?
Yes, Rick Baker and Dave Elsey won the Academy Award for Best Makeup at the 83rd Academy Awards.
Who did the werewolf makeup?
Legendary makeup artist Rick Baker, who had eagerly pursued the project because the original film inspired his childhood passion. His design faithfully echoed Jack Pierce’s 1941 look.
How long did the makeup take to apply?
The makeup reportedly took about three hours to apply each day and roughly one hour to remove.
Was casting del Toro a good fit for the makeup?
Baker thought so, reportedly saying that going from Benicio to Benicio as the Wolf Man was not a really extreme difference since del Toro’s natural hairiness required less transformation than typical werewolf makeups.
What is the story behind the film’s music?
Danny Elfman composed the original score, but Paul Haslinger was brought in to replace it with an electronic version that the studio rejected, so Elfman’s original score was restored for the final film.
How was the werewolf’s howl created?
The howl reportedly incorporated rock vocals from Gene Simmons and David Lee Roth, along with opera singers and animal impersonators.
Did the movie make money?
No. Despite a reported budget of around $150 million, it grossed roughly $142.6 million worldwide, and the Los Angeles Times named it among the costliest box office flops in a 2014 list.
Where was it filmed?
Locations included Pinewood Studios, Chatsworth House, Castle Combe, and Lacock in Wiltshire, where Universal reportedly donated £5,000 to the village.
Is there an extended version?
Yes, the director’s cut restored about 17 minutes, including a completely removed Max von Sydow scene and backstory about the silver cane-sword from Gévaudan, France.
What changed during the reshoots?
May 2009 reshoots changed the werewolf from standing on two legs to four legs and added an action sequence between the Wolf Man and the werewolf.
How did critics and even the studio react?
It holds a 32% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Universal president Ronald Meyer later called it crappy and one of the worst movies the studio ever made.
