Exclusive: Teen Wolf star Shelley Hennig shares her love for Malia Tate and recalls how she booked the unique role that provided her with so much.
MTV’s Teen Wolf first aired on the cable network in 2011 and gave birth to a loyal fanbase that remained invested in the series throughout its six-season run, something actress Shelley Hennig is more than grateful for. The show is based on the 1985 comedy film of the same name and follows 16-year-old Scott McCall as he attempts to adjust to life as a werewolf with the help of his best friend, Stiles Stilinksi. While the brotherly relationship between the teens became the heart and soul of the story, the ever-evolving McCall Pack pushed Teen Wolf to new heights.
Paramount+ recently released Teen Wolf: The Movie, which takes place 13 years after the events of the series finale. Although Dylan O’Brien and Arden Cho didn’t return for the film, Tyler Posey, Holland Roden, Crystal Reed, Shelley Hennig, and Tyler Hoechlin all reprised their roles. While discussing her new comedy series, Obliterated, in an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Shelley Hennig reflected on her time as Malia Tate. Read the full quote below:
Shelley Hennig: Malia is so important to me. In fact, a fan crocheted an animated version of Malia and I have her right there. She’s everything to me. I thought she was a really unique character, and the way that I got that role was really special. It was just an offer to do a guest star, and then Jeff Davis asked if I would stay as a series regular, and I was like, “I’m sorry, what?” At the time, I also was looking for comedy. That’s where I was at the time, and he asked if I’d stay, and I was like, “Will you make my character funny?” He was like, “Are you funny?” [I was like], “I guess we’ll find out,” and he’s like, “I guess we’ll find out.”
How Malia Tate Impacted Teen Wolf
Shelley Hennig first appeared as Malia Tate in Teen Wolf season 3, episode 14, “More Bad Than Good.” Although she didn’t become a series regular until the latter half of the series, Malia brought much-needed energy to Scott’s pack following the death of Allison Argent. The nogistune storyline remains a fan-favorite due to Dylan O’Brien’s impressive performance as Void Stiles. Still, the once lighthearted show took on a darker tone and the ensuing installments were heavy with loss.
Having spent the past eight years as a coyote, Malia struggled to reacclimate to society at the age of 17. Her growth is, arguably, one of the most compelling aspects of the fourth and fifth seasons. Malia’s survival was previously contingent on her animal instincts, so self-preservation began as one of the character’s most distinct traits. However, with the help of her friends, Malia learns how to function within a pack and develop meaningful human relationships.
Teen Wolf: The Movie reveals that Malia and Scott are no longer dating, despite winding up together in the show’s final episodes. In terms of her romantic life, Malia is last seen hooking up with Ryan Kelley’s Jordan Parrish. Regardless, there’s no telling where their relationship will go in future films. Paramount+ has not yet announced a sequel, but there are plenty of unanswered questions for a potential second movie to address.
