UPDATE: We’ve been contacted by Universal Pictures; according to them, ThePlaylist item actually contained incorrect information. There are not competing cuts of THE WOLFMAN.
Oh, for the love of…
If we hadn’t before, I think it’s time we pretty much come to grips with the idea that THE WOLFMAN is just an unholy, ungainly mess. I don’t have time to list all the links to stories we’ve done regarding its ridiculously protracted post-production, but here’s one from November that’s currently relevant, detailing the film’s re-cutting by heavyweight editors Walter Murch and Mark Goldblatt. Although it looks like even the pros can’t save this beast…
You would think that they’d at least have a releasable cut of the Joe Johnston film at this point, but no, they don’t. According to The Playlist, the f*cking thing is being re-cut yet again, this time overseen by Donna Langely, Universal’s production president. At the same time, Johnston is working on his own cut, separately. Universal will most likely screen both versions to different audiences and see which tests better, in a frenzied attempt to scrape off whatever sucks the least and hurl it into theaters on FEBRUARY 12th, the film’s release date (for now).
This is all kinds of f*cked up, and that’s the only way to put it. (Seriously, they’re still editing a month before it opens?!) I used to think there was every chance in the world that it could be worthwhile – or at the very least, enjoyable – but that thought has been banished from my brain. Now I can only hope for a surprisingly not-horrid creation that doesn’t wear the stains of its doomed production on its coat like so much filthy muck…