Occasionally, in this confusing world of movies that require a PhD in comic book studies to have any hope of parsing, a project comes along that's bizarrely refreshing in its eccentricity. Sometimes, all the brain needs to heal is a standalone comedy about Dracula's henchman. Bonus points if it involves Nicolas Cage.
That's right. Anyone still unaware of this upcoming Universal movie now has the genuine pleasure of learning about it. A new monster movie from The LEGO Batman Movie director Chris McKay is in the works, starring Cage as Dracula himself. Titled Renfield, the film will focus on the famous vampire's lackey of the same name, set to be played by Nicholas Hoult. The project has been something of a mystery since its announcement, and an exciting mystery at that, given its star-studded cast. But now, that shroud of mystery has begun to lift.
People has uncovered some set photos from Renfield, giving audiences their first look at both Cage and Hoult in costume. The former can be seen sporting a rather flamboyant look, which should offer a slight hint at the vibe this movie is going for. Cage looks ready to present Dracula as the drama kid he is with a striking velvety red suit and enough jewelry to make Little Richard jealous. Combining that look with Cage's own admission that he took inspiration from James Wan's horror film Malignant for the role should result in some truly unique material. Hoult, meanwhile, has a much more grounded look, with some standard jeans and a sweatshirt that just so happens to be covered in blood.
Hoult's lead character, the titular Renfield, has been around as long as Dracula himself, appearing all the way back in Bram Stoker's original book. The unhinged young man was an asylum inmate who wanted nothing more than to be immortal, even going so far as to drink blood to achieve his goals. Seeing Renfield as a prime target for his famous manipulations, Dracula took him on as an acolyte with promises of the eternal life he so desperately craved. It's worth noting that the upcoming film will be a comedy, which seems perfect for this sort of story.
Renfield also boasts a pretty stacked cast aside from these two heavy-hitters. The Expanse star Shohreh Aghdashloo joined the project recently as the crime lord Ella. She'll eventually find herself at odds with nihilistic traffic cop Rebecca Quincy, played by Shang-Chi star Awkwafina, who gets wrapped up in the story when Hoult's Renfield develops an intense crush on her. Ben Schwartz, recently seen in Apple TV Plus series The Afterparty and soon to be reprising his title role in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, also stars as a mobster by the name of Teddy Lobo.
There's a lot to love about everything going on here, from the anticipation of Cage's always delightful performance to the idea of Awkwafina going against a mob boss in a comedic monster movie. Unfortunately, Renfield is still filming at the moment, so that speculation will have to do for the moment. But it's a pretty magical project when even the wildest ideas don't actually seem all that farfetched.
Renfield is currently targeting a 2023 release.
Source: People