The Terminal List: Dark Wolfshowrunner, author, and co-star have explained why the prequel show was made beforeThe Terminal Listseason 2. Based on the novel by Jack Carr,The Terminal Listwas created by David DiGilio, released in July 2022, and stars Chris Pratt as a Navy SEAL who sets out to avenge the death of his family.
The Terminal Listseason 2was renewed in February 2023, but has yet to be released, with DiGilio pivoting to prequel showDark Wolf, which focuses on Taylor Kitsch’s character, Ben Edwards. DiGilio, Carr, and “Boozer” actor Jared Shaw have discussed the reasoning behind choosing the prequel show overThe Terminal Listseason 2.
During an interview withScreenRant, DiGilio, Carr, and Shaw discussed the decision behind makingThe Terminal List: Dark Wolf, and pivoting to do a prequel show first. They talked about the fact that Ben Edwards (the subject ofDark Wolf) is such a complex and interesting character that it made sense to have him as the focal point.
DiGilio discusses the desire to explore how and why Ben goes deeper into black ops. Carr praised Kitsch’s portrayal of Ben and how he elevated the character from his novel counterpart. Shaw expressed hopes that the show could span multiple seasons, and how exciting it is to explore how Ben became a darker character.
ScreenRant:Why go backwards with an origin story? And on top of that, why tell it through the lens of Ben Edwards?
David DiGilio:One of the things that came out of season 1 of The Terminal List was a great debate about the ending. Ben Edwards was such a complex character, and Taylor Kitsch brought so much empathy to that role that when we got to the ending and that finale and the reveal about Ben and what he’d done in his fate, suddenly people were debating on either side whether or not he deserved that fate.
So we realized, as we started to expand this universe, that he was the perfect character to kick off the first spinoff, a prequel, to go back in time and see where Ben came from to see what he missed about the teams.
When he says that line in the pilot, “Man, I missed the teams,” when he is looking at that LLTB on the gun, and that becomes the really impetus for our starting point, this finding Ben, a guy trying to embrace his light wolf even though he has those darker instincts inside of him.
And then over the course of hopefully multiple seasons, we start to explore the how and the why as he goes deeper and deeper into the black side of operations.
Jack Carr: But I don’t think it would’ve happened without Taylor and what he brought to the role because the character in the pages of the book is much more one dimensional. And then Taylor brought this empathy and this humanity and this depth to that role.
And so he elevated the character from what was written on the page in my novel, and then even what was on the page for the screenplays for the episodes. And he even elevated it above that. So, I don’t think we’d have this without Taylor Kitsch.
And then for us, it was just interesting to go back and figure out what would lead someone down this path and get them to a point where he can become that character and be that person who he is in The Terminal List, and do those things and also not be tied to the book. So that’s very freeing.
We know where he ends up, but you don’t know how he got there. And that part was what we all wanted to explore to include Taylor and Chris and all of us, and then viewers as well. So it’s been an incredible experience and once again, it’s quite freeing.
You have that creative freedom to expand this universe and get to spend more time with some amazing people on set that have really become like family.
Jared Shaw:I mean they both hit on it. We have this season and hopefully a few more after, but being able to have the runway to the turn at the end of the first season with Ben and being able to then explore that and see and Jack hit on it…
But see how he got to that point, what happened over the five, six years that got him to the end of the first season of Terminal List, really digging in and seeing he’s got the light wolf in him, but what happened over those years that the dark wolf took over?
And that’s exciting to be able to think about it now and then be able to portray it hopefully over another couple seasons."
What This Means For The Terminal: Dark Wolf
The Terminal Listseason 2 is set to deviate from the novel, butDark Wolfis a show that will contain more original arcs and plot lines than the original show. The comments show the appeal of choosing to go withDark Wolfinstead of a follow-up season toThe Terminal List, and exploring characters like Ben allows the franchise to expand and grow.
The Terminal List: Dark Wolfis set to premiere on Prime Video on August 27.
The Terminal List: Dark Wolftrailerindicates the show will look to enhance the world created inThe Terminal List, and shows that the franchise has a strong future that isn’t overly reliant on Pratt. It is also a great way of fleshing out the character of Ben, and giving his story more scope, following his death inThe Terminal List.
Our Take On The Terminal List: Dark Wolf
A show likeThe Terminal Listcombines the perfect balance of action, espionage, and drama, andDark Wolflooks like it’s going to take this to the next level. Having a show focused on a supporting character is, of course, a risk, but the layered, multi-dimensional nature of Ben’s morally-ambiguous character makes it a fascinating study.
Furthermore,The Terminal List, season 2 will likely have been delayed by Pratt’s busy Hollywood schedule.The Terminal List: Dark Wolfbridges the gap, expanding the story and the franchise, and allowing Kitsch to take the reins while Pratt focused on his movie commitments, and the show also helps build anticipation forThe Terminal Listseason 2.
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf
Cast
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is an espionage thriller set five years prior to The Terminal List, chronicling Ben Edwards' transition from Navy SEAL to CIA paramilitary operator.
