In 2011 MTV unleashed Teen Wolf, a dark teenage drama based on the 1980s film of the same name starring Michael J. Fox – which was one of my favorites as a kid. At the time, I was so sick of dark reboots that I was preprepared to hate the series. I wanted to hate the series. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. It was too good. Three episodes in and I was obsessed. Created by Jeff Davis, it became a phenomenon and one of the best damn dramas on television.
In 2017, after six seasons and 100 episodes, the series ended, and almost instantly, rumors of a spin-off started to swirl the internet.
But it didn’t happen, and for seven years, fans have waited with bated breath for the pack to return – and on Thursday, 26 January, they finally did.
Original series stars Tyler Posey returns as Alpha werewolf Scott McCall Holland Roland as banshee Lydia, Colton Haynes as Canima Jackson, and even Crystal Reed as Alison Argent (who, yes, spoiler, is back from the dead). Tyler Hoechlin returns as Derek Hale, who’s now a literal daddy, while later seasons regulars Shelley Hennig and Dylan Sprayberry return as Coyote Malia and beta wolf Liam. Even Hell Hound Jordan Parrish returns to help save Beacon Hills from the most terrifying evil the fictional California town has ever faced.
Jeff Davis returned as both the screenwriter and an executive producer on the film, while Russell Mulcahy, an episodic director on the series, returned to direct the film. Only three original cast members declined to return, Dylan O’Brien, Arden Cho, and Cody Christian. Though Lydia did mention Stiles multiple times, Cho and Christian’s characters, while necessary to the original series’ storyline, were inconsequential to the film. However, a new wolf, Derek’s son Eli, was introduced, played by Vince Mattis.
Airing now on Paramount +, The film was released on the same day as the Teen Wolf spin-off series Wolf Pack, though it does not appear like any character, including Eli, crosses over into the series.
Was it a great film? No. But it was fun. Also, Tyler Posey and Tyler Hoechlin have aged like fine wine.
Life In Cartoon Motion 