More Wolfman Rumours: Baker Brought Back On to Save Transformation Scenes?

This morning at ShockTilYouDrop.com, Ryan Rotten shares some inside information he’s received about the oft-delayed Wolfman remake.

One tipster says Universal has sunk nearly $10-30 million into re-shoots in England. Much of the scenes had to do with the full Wolfman makeup because it wasn’t “working out” and “was too much like the original” Chaney makeup. Another writer tells me Rick Baker was brought back in to direct practical transformation work because the CGI, again, wasn’t working.

Ryan stresses that these tidbits should be treated as rumours, but that he’ll try to get corroborating statements from official sources. It’s a shame about the makeup being redone, as I rather liked the official publicity photos that have been floating around since March 2008. I certainly hope the part about Baker being brought back on for the transformation scenes is true, though– around this time last year, he was unhappy at being excluded the first time round, and as we all know from An American Werewolf in London and The Howling, Rick Baker knows how to turn a person into a werewolf properly: physical makeup and effects, rather than CG.

Jul. 30th 2009

12 Short Stories About Werewolves, Cowboys and Silver Bullets

SOScotland sent me a note on Twitter, kindly informing me that there are 12 short stories about werewolves available to read in their entirety (or listen to via podcast) on Jeffery Hite‘s web site. Jeffery does a weekly thing where authors are invited to write between 100 and 3,000 words on a designated topic, and the topic this time around is “Silver bullets, the real reason that some cowboys carried them.”

The titles and authors are:

  • Silver Bullets; the real reason that some cowboys carried them by Eric Moseman
  • Skinwalker by Travis Nelson
  • High Moon by Zach Ricks
  • Waltzing with Werewolves by Mick Bordet
  • Bad Medicine by Scott Roche
  • Letters by Danny Machal
  • Silver Solves The Dilemma by Mick Bordet
  • Suspicions and Silver Bullets by Eldon KR
  • Silver Bullets by Val Griswold-Ford
  • Other kind of Vampire by Patrick and Jeff Hite
  • Changing Times by Jeffrey Hite
  • To be a man, part II by Norval Joe

There’s some great reading material there, and you can vote for your favourite, so go check them out!

Jul. 29th 2009

The Wolfman Delayed Yet Again

Okay, now I’m concerned. According to numerous sources, including the official web site, Universal has bumped the release date of The Wolfman again, this time pushing it all the way back to February 12, 2010. That’s a three month move from its previous release date of November 6 2009, and nearly 10 months off its original release date of April 9, 2009. Producer Scott Stuber says it’s strictly a marketing decision, but couple these delays with the hints of a werewolf re-design and the film’s conspicuous absense from the San Diego Comic Con and you’ve got signs of a troubled production. Not all of the new is bad, though. Word is that the first official trailer for The Wolfman will debut August 21st, with the release of Quentin Tarintino’s Inglourious Basterds.

Jul. 29th 2009

SDCC Photos of Mazco “Wolfman” Figures

Mazco Wolfman Figures - SDCC

ArcLight wrote in to let me (and all of you) know that Bloody Disgusting posted some close-up photos of Mazco’s official Wolfman figures. Three versions of a wolfed-out Lawrence Talbot were shown at the San Diego Comic Con, including an awesome “bloody” version. They say that you need to visualize the future you want, in order to achieve it, so let me say this again: I will have these. Click through to Bloody Disgusting to see more photos!

Jul. 28th 2009

Tim Burton Confirms Next Project: “Dark Shadows”

Last week at the San Diego Comic Con, Tim Burton confirmed that once he’s finished with his Alice in Wonderland remake, his next project will be an adaptation of the gothic TV series Dark Shadows, featuring werewolves, vampires and zobmies. This is a nice follow-up to last year’s quasi-rumour on the subject. Bring on the new Quentin Collins!

Jul. 27th 2009

Nick Dudman Talks About Harry Potter Werewolf Makeup

Make-Up Artist Magazine and the Los Angeles Times have both posted short interviews with Nick Dudman, the head makeup effects designer for the Harry Potter films. In each interview, Dudman talks about the efforts behind developing and applying the prosthetics for werewolf character Fenrir Greyback (played by Dave Legeno). There’s not much in the way of photos, but still worth a read!

Jul. 24th 2009

House of the Wolf Man

House of the Wolfman

Late last week, Nuke The Fridge got the scoop on Eben McGarr‘s retro-fantastic indie film House of the Wolf Man, starring (among others) Ron Chaney, the grandson of the original Wolf Man, Lon Chaney, Jr.

“Dr. Bela Reinhardt (Chaney) has invited five people to his castle to see which of them will inherit his estate. He has arranged for a competition of sorts, the victor shall be determined through process of… elimination,” McGarr tells Bloody-Disgusting. “The film was shot in black and white, 1:33 aspect ratio and is a good old fashioned monster movie that you could bring your kids to.”

If you missed Chaney and McGarr at the San Diego Comic Con (apparently they were there, but schedule details are sketchy), Bloody-Disgusting has the convention trailer, and you’ll find more amazing (and super-hi-res) photos like the one above here. NukeTheFridge.com also has some great shots of the monsters.

I don’t know about you, but seeing these photos and watching the trailer made me grin ear-to-ear. Thanks to NukeTheFridge.com, ArcLight and Bloody-Disgusting for the info.

Jul. 24th 2009

Den of Geek: A look back at An American Werewolf in London

The classic werewolf film An American Werewolf in London has been getting a lot of press lately, what with the Blu-ray edition on the way this September, and Dimension Films getting ready to shoot a remake. Today, Den of Geek is taking a look back at AWIL in the form of an article about the film’s groundbreaking status when it was released in the 80’s, and its status today as (some would say) the Holy Grail of werewolf films. Supplemented with some great still-frames and some interesting trivia, it’s well worth a read.

Jul. 22nd 2009

He’s Small, He’s Pink, He’s Groomed, But He’s 100% Wolf

100% Wolf Children’s author Jayne Lyons recently contacted me to tell me about her book, 100% Wolf.

Freddy Lupin is no ordinary boy. He is from a noble family of werewolves. But his first Transwolfation is a disaster when instead of turning into a noble and fearsome wolf, he turns into a totally tiny, utterly ridiculous and perfectly pathetic poodle. Terrifying Uncle Hotspur throws him out of the wolfpack in disgrace. At least he’s met Batty the mongrel, the most faithful friend a poodle could find. And he needs friends, as the evil wolf-hunter Dr. Foxwell Cripp has just shown up in town.

Can Freddy prove that though he’s a pink poodle, he’s still 100% wolf and save the werewolf pack from disaster?

Jayne has made the first chapter available for free as an MP3. I listened and enjoyed myself immensely, both as a fan of werewolves and children’s books (hey, they’re fun). Jayne has also gone to great lengths to provide kid-friendly werewolf information on her site, which is wonderful to see.

100% Wolf comes out in August, and is available for pre-order on Amazon. Thanks for sharing, Jayne!

Jul. 22nd 2009

Harry Palms

ArmchairAccomplice sent me a link to “Harry Palms”, an episode of The Receptionist by Travis Betz. The link was accompanied by a note that read “low tech werewolf musical hits youtube, the less I say the better.” I watched. I bit my fist. I went to Travis’s web site and confirmed my suspicions: Travis Betz is a demented genius. And now, I share the video with you.

Jul. 17th 2009