Werewolf By Night 2 Ideas Are Crazy And Nuts
Best known as a Disney composer on such classic animated projects as The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Inside Out, Zootopia, and Up, Michael Giacchino made his directorial debut last year with the Disney+ Marvel special Werewolf by Night. The special, which is based on a Marvel Comics character of the same name, turned a number of heads upon release, garnering excellent reviews from critics due to its tight run-time, practical effects, and artsy shot composition. Luckily for Marvel fans, according to Yahoo Entertainment Michael Giacchino has plenty of plans for Werewolf by Night 2, including ideas he calls “crazy and nuts.”
Giacchino didn’t elaborate on what exactly those “crazy and nuts” ideas are, but he seems to be eagerly awaiting the green-light from Marvel to begin work on Werewolf by Night 2, though many fans feel quite confident that the sequel will receive an order based solely on the popularity of the first special.
One reason Marvel executives may have for not closing the deal on Werewolf by Night 2 yet is the recently-concluded WGA strike and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
Werewolf by Night marks one of the only objectively successful projects in the MCU’s fourth phase, which includes such box office bombs as Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Widow. Though the series has seen both major highs and major lows in the year since Werewolf by Night‘s release, many audiences seem to be experiencing superhero fatigue as the MCU catalogue continues to expand.
Luckily, Michael Giacchino has claimed to be fully prepared to take the franchise into strange and exciting new places with Werewolf by Night 2, including a roster of additional characters from the comics and a host of fresh direction. During a recent press run, Giacchino expressed excitement at helming a sequel, though he remained cautious when explaining that no official order has been made by the studio at this time.
“There’s always talk. But, you know, until somebody decides to spend a penny, nothing happens yet. So, hopefully. My wish is that, yes, there will be more with these characters. I would love to, and I have ideas of what I would love to do with them, and it’s all crazy and nuts, but I think that’s the only way to go about it. So, hopefully, one day. Hopefully, one day.”
-Michael Giacchino on the possibility of Werewolf by Night 2 happening
One reason Marvel executives may have for not closing the deal on Werewolf by Night 2 yet is the recently-concluded WGA strike and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. The work-stoppages caused by these strikes caused a significant halt in the order of nearly all new and ongoing projects at major AMPTP studios throughout a large portion of the past year.
Despite the strikes preventing brand new projects from rolling out, studios have been hard at work squeezing new life into their existing intellectual property, including Disney, who has announced a colorized re-release of Werewolf by Night in time for Halloween.
The re-release was shared on Disney+ last week, allowing fans to experience the special in all its vibrant glory. The original Werewolf by Night special was presented in stylized black and white footage, mimicking the visual aesthetic of classic pulp horror films of the early 20th century, such as 1922’s Nosferatu.
Werewolf by Night director Michael Giacchino says he’s waiting for Marvel to green light Werewolf by Night 2 so he can put his “crazy and nuts” ideas in action.
While Giacchino has not yet elaborated on whether he plans to continue the black and white motif in Werewolf by Night 2, the stylistic choice certainly provides a stark differentiation from the standard Marvel formula, allowing the film to stand out.
The visual language of Werewolf by Night 2 will likely be largely impacted by fan response to the colorized version, as well as the demands of the studio to include more tie-ins to the greater Marvel franchise. Regardless, the Werewolf by Night franchise currently serves as an excellent departure from the hegemony of the Marvel style, making it nearly impervious to superhero fatigue. With any luck, we may receive an announcement for a sequel very soon.
