They are making a movie reboot of Teen Wolf. Not the Michael J Fox movie from 1985, but the 2011 series. It’s being called Teen Wolf the Movie but it’s intended to reignite the franchise into a series. I didn’t watch the original, but I know it was a fan favorite and there’s a lot of enthusiasm over the announcement that the cast is coming back for the redux. Only not all the cast is coming back. Lead Tyler Posey is. As are Crystal Reed, Holland Roden, Colton Haynes and Shelley Hennig. Tyler Hoechlin is unknown right now, but not likely. However Dylan O’Brien is a no. Also a no, the only woman of color among the female leads, Arden Cho. Arden is not returning because she was offered half of the per-episode salary the three other leads were offered. This is shameful.
Teen Wolf star Tyler Posey is set to reprise his role as Scott McCall in Paramount+’s upcoming movie sequel to the 2011 MTV series. Eleven other series regular and recurring cast members of the original series are set for the full-length reunion film, including Crystal Reed, Holland Roden, Colton Haynes and Shelley Hennig, the streamer’s chief content officer of unscripted entertainment and adult animation Chris McCarthy announced during today’s ViacomCBS Investors Event.
Missing from the list are former series regulars Dylan O’Brien, Arden Cho and Tyler Hoechlin. I hear Cho and O’Brien are not returning for the revival. There has been chatter that Hoechlin also would not be coming back but his status appears to be in flux, and I hear he will likely return. Paramount+ said that additional cast names will be announced.
According to sources, Cho, the only actress of color among the four female series regular cast members who played the group of teen friends at the center of the show, was offered half the per-episode salary proposed to her three counterparts, leading to her decision to pass. Cho recurred in Season 3 and was a series regular in Seasons 4-5.
I read up a bit on Arden’s history in the series. Her character, Kira Yukimura, appeared in half of season three and all of seasons four and five. At one point, she was Scott McCall’s (Teen Wolf) love interest. From what I’ve read, they developed her character well and she was really popular. But she did not appear in season six. This was also shady. As in, everyone, including Arden, thought she was coming back. But before season six aired, Arden posted a video saying there was room for everyone and suddenly Kira had been dropped from the show. Arden, unlike some of the other characters that left the show, did not return for the finale. At the time, a lot of people pointed the finger at show creator Jeff Davis for using East Asian mythology for storylines and shuttling out the main Asian character as soon as he didn’t need that culture anymore. And Jeff is who everyone is pointing the finger at now, too. They’re citing the fact that Crystal Reed’s Allison is coming back and she’s dead, so she’s being paid full salary as a ghost. Also notable is that Dylan O’Brien, in addition to passing on the series, liked some tweets about Arden saying no due to the salary issue. So something stinks here. And this Jeff guy needs to answer as to why he would offer a lead half the salary per episode. My guess is he’s going to say it’s because of the amount of screen time, but that suggests the next question: why isn’t this main character getting the story arc she deserves? This all looks terrible and it’s going to hang over this movie if they don’t clear it up.
I’m glad Arden stood her ground. She’s been through a lot and was verbally assaulted in an AAPI hate crime in her neighborhood while walking her dog last year. Good for her for not just accepting a lesser salary because these jerks thought that could get away with it. And good for her for letting that information get out there so others know what’s still going on in the industry.
Photo credit: Avalon Red and Instagram
This is a shame! I hope she finds something better. She deserves the same pay as the others.
People need to stick together. The cast should have refused to make the movie unless she is paid the same amount.
This is my feeling too. Where are all those white allies?
Because the cast aren’t actually allies. Shows you who they truly are.
I agree, why haven’t they stuck together?
Could not agree more. Not only is it racist, it’s just frankly insulting. Half? GTFO!
This.
I never watched this show but I applaud Arden Cho. Now I’d love for all of her white costars to step up and say, no, they also won’t participate if this is the way things are going down. And then that Jeff guy should be fired.
I’m south east asian and I consider myself a person of colour. I have never been lumped in as white. Geez, I know a lot of Asian cultures highly price fair skin, I still remember getting bombared with whitening products when I was just a child. I would bleach my skin with soap and creams, drink glutathione because the message was, fair skin is good and tanned/dark skin is not. I eventually got over that when I moved to Europe. I often tell my friends, you can bleach your skin all you want but you will never be “white.”
edit: I was replying to comment that’s no longer there.
Ugh, that’s seems like in bad form! I’ve followed her recently because of her Asian-American activism and it’s been really positive to see. This is bad publicity for the producers because it seems that IF they offered her a fair wage, she would have come back in the finale or this new film…she was still posting nice things about teen wolf until recently? Maybe they think just any publicity is a good idea?! Oh well, she’s posted about a Netflix show upcoming, hope she has a better experience and I’ll watch that!
Lame, so lame. Zero respect for the producers and where are those white allies? Goood for Arden Cho for standing up and speaking out for herself.
I’ve watched the show sporadically and Kira is the best female character there is on Teen Wolf. Also, no Dylan, Tyler or Ian Bohen who is in Yellowstone so what even is the purpose of reviving the show without the fan favorites.
I assume the issue with Dylan O’Brien is also financial – he’s been the lead in major movies. There is no way he’s going back to playing second or third male lead in a TV show (or even make a cameo) without a major payday.
However, I don’t see why Arden should get less than the other leads – it’s not like they’ve done particularly well since the show finished either. If it’s based on time on screen, as a previous poster says, how about *not* marginalising the only non-white character and giving her equal screen time? Problem solved. /s
half the salary of her white FEMALE costars. So compared to the men I’m sure it’s 10%? 7%? I’d say no to that to.
Long time fan of the show here. The show has always had a diversity problem. Always. I’ve seen the series several times, I can only name 2 characters that were more than extras who were ‘good guys’. That was Kira and Deaton, both written off by season 6. Both absolutely necessary to the show.
It was ridiculous that this happened during the show’s original run but absolutely insane that it is still happening.
I know (and love!!) Dylan O’Brian has been booked and busy since season 3 of the show so I’m not surprised he doesn’t have time. But I was surprised and he happily he publicly supported Arden. Especially bc it could hamper his ability to come back at all and he said during a Pandemic interview that he would love too.
So since this story is getting a lot of traction, I’ve got a question. I feel like someone may have to answer and rectify this. If, they come out and offer her the proper salary and she has the time do you think she should take the role?
This surprises no Teen Wolf fan as Jeff Davis has always been a jerk. He queer baited the LBGTQ+ community with hints of Sterek (Stiles/Derek), then dropped that like a hot potato.
I really hope Tyler H. doesn’t come back. The only reason I would watch it would to be see Papa Argent make out with Uncle Peter.
I know I’m going to be jumped on for saying this. But she and Tyler Posey never really had any chemestry together. I know her and her family were brought in to bring in that seasons big bad. But her character should have been dropped after that. She never really fit in with the other characters. I can’t say that wasn’t because the writers were prejudiced. But she never really fit in. Plus what are they going to do with all the B team characters they set up to leave in Beacon Hills. The cast just got to extensive.
Dylan was a fan favorite so I’m super surprised if it were a money issue with him because I would think they’d throw a bunch at him to have him show up. Both he and Tyler aren’t hurting for roles. I never got passed season 2 so I’m not sure how big of a part Arden had in the original series, but good for her for speaking up and calling out the studio. They have the money. If they can bring back annoying dead characters, they can do this.
They don’t have the budget to throw DO’B what he is worth right now. He’s doing movies with some big names. Plus: scheduling.