Ryan Gosling’s “Wolfman” project with Universal has shed it’s previous director. Leigh Whanell was originally attached to the project but departed earlier this year due to scheduling conflicts. “Blue Valentine” helmer Derek Cianfrance is now joining instead.
Gosling and Cianfrance had previously teamed up for both “Blue Valentine” and “Place Beyond the Pines.” Cianfrance is already penning the script so this would be adding more responsibilities.
Universal Pictures had previously been trying to set up their Dark Universe. Their classic movie monster equivalent of the MCU. After the middling success of Tom Cruise’s 2017 “The Mummy” the project seems to have lost considerable steam.
Had the Dark Universe succeeded it would have featured an “Invisible Man” project with Johnny Depp and likely a “Bride of Frankenstein” reboot.
Ironically since the collapse of that universe, the only of those characters to make it to the big screen was “The Invisible Man” directed by… Whanell.
Our were-tagonist first hit the silver screen in 1935’s “Werewolf of London” starring Henry Hull. It wasn’t until 6 years later when Lon Chaney, Jr. starred in “The Wolf Man” that the lycanthrope cemented their place in cinema monster history. Benecio Del Toro starred in the 2010 reboot of “The Wolfman.”
Reunited
Gosling has several projects in motion including starring as Ken to Margot Robbie’s Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film. You can see him next in the Russo Brothers’ upcoming Netflix film, “The Gray Man.” That film will also have him team up with “Bridgerton” breakout Regé-Jean Page, “Knives Out” and “No Time to Die” star Ana de Armas, and “Avengers” alum Chris Evans.
Cianfrance last directed the Michael Fassbender / Alicia Vikander romance “The Light Between Oceans.” He was recently nominated for an Academy Award for his writing work on “Sound of Metal.”
Collaborations between Gosling and Cianfrance have certainly been heavier in the past. If they do re-team on this, it’ll be interesting to see the tone “Wolfman” takes.
We’ll let you know what we hear about this and other projects.
