Why isn’t Dylan O’Brien (Stiles) in Teen Wolf: The Movie?

If you were a fan of MTV scripted series in the 2010s, chances are you were hooked on Teen Wolf, the supernatural drama which ran for six seasons between 2011 and 2017. The beloved show was a staple for the channel and catapulted several actors to fame, including Tyler Posey (Scott), Crystal Reed (Allison), Holland Roden (Lydia), Colton Haynes (Jackson), and Dylan O’Brien (Stiles).

Many of the actors have gone on to appear in other popular shows and movies, including O’Brien, who also starred in The Maze Runner movies and other titles like Love and Monsters and more recently, Not Okay. The 31-year-old actor also had a hilarious guest-starring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm which was really fun to see.

Now that many of the Teen Wolf actors are returning for the new movie, appropriately titled Teen Wolf: The Movie, fans are wondering why O’Brien isn’t involved. The Paramount+ project will see Posey, Reed, Roden, Haynes, Tyler Hoechlin, Shelley Hennig, and others reprise their roles, though sadly O’Brien decided to sit this one out.

Dylan O’Brien explains why he won’t play Stiles in Teen Wolf movie

The New Jersey native spoke with Variety last year about his movie The Outfit, and of course, he was asked about his decision to not reprise his role as Stiles. According to O’Brien, although he considered coming back for Teen Wolf: The Movie, he ultimately realized he really liked how the show ended for his character, so he didn’t want to ruin that:

"“Ultimately, I just decided it was left in a really good place for me and I still want to leave it there. I wish them well and I’m going to watch it the first night it comes out. I hope it f**king kicks ass, but I’m not going to be in it.”"

Did Stiles die at the end of Teen Wolf?

And no, the fact that O’Brien won’t appear in the movie isn’t because his character died in the show. By the final season, Stiles and the rest of the crew are in their senior year of high school getting ready to graduate. When the show ends, he’s off to work at an internship with the FBI.

We’ll be curious to see whether or not Teen Wolf: The Movie acknowledges Stiles’ absence or explains what he’s been up to. Given there’s no bad blood between O’Brien and the franchise, I’d be surprised if they just act like he doesn’t exist.

Teen Wolf: The Movie premieres on Paramount+ this Thursday, January 26.