First Look: Benecio Del Toro as The Wolfman

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If you see Rick Baker, given him a high five! The genius of movie make-up behind American Werewolf in London has once again created one helluva Wolfman! Yes, that is Benecio Del Toro fully transformed into the full moon-friendly title beast in director Joe Johnston’s The Wolfman. EW got first dibbs on these two images from the 2009 horror flick co-starring Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt along with a pretty cool interview with Baker. Here’s an excerpt…

How much did you update the makeup from the [1941] original?
Rick Baker: It’s actually more frightening. But I still wanted to be true to the original and show respect for it. What’s interesting about those two pictures is that there’s one that he’s kind of facing forward and you see a little more of his body - that’s very much more of a classic Wolfman shot; it looks more like the Chaney version. The close-up one is a more frightening and dynamic version. Even though it’s the same makeup [as the first picture], he can do a lot more than Lon Chaney could do with the makeup. It’s cool that there’s something for the old-school guys, and the other picture is more for the guys who don’t even know what the Wolfman is but can see that picture and still go, ”Oh, that’s cool!”

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Discuss: On a scale of 1-10 howls, how sweet are these images?  

  • 10. Holy crap.
  • chad
    11. AWESOME.
  • Orange Clockwork
    I don't know. Looks like something you would see on a Happy Halloween greeting card.
  • Hunter Stephenson
    IMO: 10 Howls.

    @ Orange Clockwork

    Keep in mind that this is Baker's tribute to the classic Wolfman, the one that started it all. And with that in mind, it's ideal.
  • Pete
    Rick Baker is a genius. I'm glad we're getting the old school Werewolf back. I'm a little tired of the Dog/Wolf.
  • Jerry Butler
    Sp, when a man transforms into an animal his skin gets dark and his hair gets kinky? A bit racists?

    This make-up approach might have flown under the radar back in the 1930's, but come on it's goddamn 2008.

    Better stop that Wolfman, I hear he's after all of our white women! :roll:
  • esther
    20 dude! It looks so real!
  • notbillymitchell
    Looks great! I'm sure Joe Johnston can deliver a good film.
  • Bob
    10! Yes! Awesome makeup job.
  • Jenbot
    9 howls and an orgasm to make it 10! these are fucking unbelievably classy and original. holy balls in my face good job Baker!
  • Captain Awesome
    holy shit, that looks cool. And there hasn't been a good werewolf design in film since American Werewolf in London and the one in the first Howling film.

    Every modern CG take on a werewold look like giant, hairless, rats. or some sort of cartoony, anorexic, coyote.
  • Andy
    O_O
  • Danatic
    9.5. Because I'm pretentious.
  • Aaron
    12! It looks just like a real werewolf >.>
  • ruben
    10 awesome they should get this guy revamp other classics
    i bleive in johnston very much after october sky
  • 10.5 ++

    Best looking werewolf since Dog soldiers..
  • Captain Awesome
    Well to be fair (Turning on nerd-mode)

    This is more of a "Wolfman" than the famed hyper-extended, legged, "Werewolf". So while I think this looks amazing, I still see them as two different creature designs.

    But I love that Rick Baker took the classic wolfman and modernized it. I'd like to think this is the stage before the evolution to the hyper-extended wolf creature everyone is used to.

    :)
  • Rick Baker is the man - this looks brilliant. Based on these photos alone I can say for the first time I am really looking forward to seeing this and will do on opening weekend.
  • tobor68
    holy !

    say good-bye to bad CG werewolves. i'm ready for old school make-up to make a big come back.

    joe johnson is making a classic.
  • Eddie
    Del Toro's already freaky enough! This just makes him downright nightmarish! Excellent!!!! 10
  • That looks wicked...
  • Meli
    10!
    Rick Baker has done an awesome job! I can't wait to see
    this on the big screen.
  • Flamen Dialis
    Baker hits another one out of the ballpark and through your windshield in the parking lot.

    Absolutely beautiful.
  • P-Dogg
    I Hope to god that it isn't the fianl image!
  • vander
    Pumped! havent seen a good Werewolf movie since "Wolf' with Jack Nicholson, Del Toro has the makings of a legendary Wolfman. can't wait to see a trailer..
  • jr
    "when a man transforms into an animal his skin gets dark and his hair gets kinky? A bit racists?"

    come on... what's scarrier: a black wolf or a beige one?
    and, by the way, have you ever seen a wolf? was it's fur silky and flowing in the breeze or a bit, as you say, kinky?

    come on, stop looking for stuff that isn't there...
  • Kurt
    Not impressed. The werewolves in the first Howling movie still rule!!
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