He’s no longer just a vampire! Looks like Nicolas Cage is about to play the role he was born for, as Universal Pictures have tapped the prolific actor to portray Dracula in their upcoming movie Renfield.
As its title suggests, the movie will focus on Dracula’s loyal and only slightly disturbed assistant Renfield (portrayed by Dwight Frye in the 1931 classic). According to The Hollywood Reporter, it’s “described as a modern-day adventure story that is comedic in tone.”
Renfield is the brainchild of The Walking Dead’s Robert Kirkman. Director Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War and 2017’s The LEGO Batman Movie) has also joined the project. As for Renfield himself, Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: Dark Phoenix) will play the role.
I expect him to eat a lot of bugs. If not, my disappointment will be immeasurable.
As for actual plot details, we’ll have to wait for those. However, THR does say the screenplay is written by Ryan Ridley, who has previously worked on Rick and Morty (based on a story by Kirkman). That might clue us into the kind of tone we’ll be looking at.
In recent years, Nicolas Cage has been on spree of starring in relatively smaller films, including Mandy, Wally’s Wonderland, and (one I really liked) 2019’s Color Out Of Space. But it’ll be fun to see him in a big budget flick again. As Dracula, no less.
Yes, yes, this is Universal Pictures we’re talking about (still feeling the echoes of that Dark Universe…or is that still happening?). But even if it’s a cinematic disaster, with Cage it’s just about guaranteed to be an entertaining one.
Founder and editor-in-chief of Atomic Lagoon. Spends his time changing aquarium water, feeding cats, and watching old monster movies in 3D.
