How eccentric must an actor's reputation be when an actual blood-sucking monster looks like it will be one of their more tame roles? Nicolas Cage has essentially made a career out of accepting everything from the mundane to the absolutely, bafflingly surreal, and his latest acquisition may well land right in the middle. Don't get it wrong, audiences love him for it, and he's a real Hollywood treasure. It's just fun to talk about.
Cage has officially joined the ranks of the undead (though probably not for the first time, given his resume) with his newest role. Unlike his similarly bizarre past projects like Face/Off or Willy's Wonderland, where he fights a bunch of murderous animatronics, this one seems to be a slightly more down-to-earth variety of the weird and wonderful. This time, he'll be playing the OG vampire Dracula himself. But oddly enough, such a famous figure may not be the lead character in this particular case.
The Hollywood Reporter has learned Universal has cast Cage as the famous bloodsucker in its upcoming monster movie Renfield, which will focus on Dracula's longtime follower and henchman who, curiously, doesn't seem to get as much attention as his notorious master these days. Hollywood hotshot Nicholas Hoult will play the titular character in this new film described as "a modern-day adventure story that is comedic in tone." Unfortunately, little else is known about the plot or movie in general. But it's already got some pretty prime talent behind it.
Chris McKay, who was behind such hits as The Tomorrow War and the surprisingly wonderful LEGO Batman Movie, will direct the film. For those unsure, just give those films a watch and have those fears erased. Granted, while The LEGO Batman Movie's sequel was tragically canceled, it doesn't erase how kind of perfect that movie is. It knew exactly what it wanted to be and pulled off one of the best family comedies one could ask for, so hopefully, that's a sign of what to expect from Renfield.
Renfield as a character has been around for as long as Dracula himself, first appearing all the way back in Bram Stoker's original 1897 Dracula novel. He was an asylum patient who drank blood and strove for immortality, making him a prime target for Dracula's manipulation. The great vampire took Renfield on as an acolyte, feeding him bugs and rodents while teasing him with the possibility of earning the same eternal life as Dracula. Fans of vampire stories will recognize the now-famous trope of the vampire's "familiar" who serves their master in the hopes of becoming an immortal creature of the night themselves.
Considering how fans of What We Do in the Shadows may be drawing some parallels between Renfield and their beloved familiar/vampire hunter Guillermo, it wouldn't be surprising to see the new film take inspiration from sources like this show and others. It's supposed to be a comedy after all, so why not pay homage? It would be an interesting circle of life, and a fascinating allegory for immortality. Or maybe it would just be funny. That would be enough.
Renfield is in development at Universal.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter