MTV’s Teen Wolf certainly changed the lore up from the ’85 classic, which starred Michael J. Fox as Scott Howard, a teen in Nebraska balancing his feral nature with basketball, puberty and girls. The TV series, on the other hand, took a more gritty approach, incorporating more supernatural creatures. And it was such a success that, following a six-season run, Paramount+ is planning a revival film, bringing back series star Tyler Posey and others for another run. However, rather than focusing on the new generation so soon, the franchise should be looking to make a sequel to the ’87 follow-up, Teen Wolf Too.
Now, it’s understandable Paramount wants to capitalize on the show’s success, especially with millennials, but it’s already missing the mark on a few notes. Dylan O’Brien’s Stiles isn’t slated to return yet, which is no surprise given how the actor’s career has taken off in Hollywood. In addition, Arden Cho won’t be returning as Kira, one of the few characters of color, due to reported pay inequality. That already makes the film feel like a patchwork relaunch that can’t stay out of trouble.
However, a third movie in the original film universe could do what Ghostbusters: Afterlife did, tugging at heartstrings while uniting generations. Admittedly, critics didn’t like Teen Wolf Too, which featured Jason Bateman as Todd, Scott’s cousin who went through similar issues. But the story wasn’t all that bad, with Todd getting revenge on his bullies and finding his path. And given that Bateman now has immense star power, he can resume what Todd’s dad, Harold, did, mentoring his own kid.
Todd can also shine as a husband, another role Bateman has nailed in the likes of Couples Retreat and Game Night, only this time, it’ll be a lot more complicated juggling family life as a wolf. And to make things even more interesting, his kid going through these changes shouldn’t be a boy but a girl. This would not only allow Todd to pass the baton, but his girl being a female could undo the toxic male stigma the franchise deals with. These films, as well as the show, were heavy on testosterone, and it’s about time to move away from fragile male egos.
Female-driven movies are much-needed in the modern era, and so many brilliant actors could shine in such a narrative. Jenna Ortega (Netflix’s You) or Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers) are prime candidates for a character who could flip the script and scrub the franchise of its old issues. Todd’s journey can even bring back the old Stiles (Jerry Levine), Chubby (Mark Holton) and Fox’s Scott, honoring the old days. But regardless of who comes back or joins, all the ingredients are there to evolve the Teen Wolf franchise with a more inclusive coming-of-age story.
To see where the franchise goes, the Teen Wolf movie does not yet have a release date, but all six seasons of the series are currently available to stream on Paramount+.
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