Casting plans for Robert Eggers' much-awaited adaptation of Nosferatu include Bill Skarsgard (It, Barbarian) in the monstrous title role along with Lily-Rose Depp (Silent Night) in talks to co-star.
As one of the leading horror creators in Hollywood today known for The Witch and The Lighthouse, Eggers is steadily working on his adaptation of the 1929 classic Nosferatu film, one of the earliest horror motion pictures, which tells the story of a terrifying and ancient Transylvanian vampire who becomes obsessed with a haunted young woman in 19th Century Germany. The new Nosferatu film is set to be produced by Focus Features, with Eggers directing and writing the script.
According to Deadline, initial plans by Eggers to cast Anya Taylor-Joy and Harry Styles in the adaptation failed to work out due to actor schedules. However, attaching Skarsgard to the role of the monster succeeded. With Taylor-Joy tied up in other projects, the film took on Depp as the tormented woman. According to Eggers, the film has been in the works for a while, first in 2019 at Studio 8. When budget and talent schedules delayed the project, Eggers pushed pause while working on The Northman but planned to return to Nosferatu eventually.
Skarsgard has a record of playing great horror roles, including his terrifying Pennywise in the latest It films and recent roles in Barbarian and the Devil All the Time. He is also attached to star in Rupert Sanders' reboot of The Crow franchise. Depp, who was most recently seen in Blumhouse's Silent Night, is an increasingly capable and in-demand actress, with fame heightened by her Hollywood legacy as the daughter of Johnny Depp.
Nosferatu's reign as the father of all vampire films was one of the first Hollywood films to set the bar for the horror that would come in early Hollywood monster films, like Universal horror movies Frankenstein and Dracula. Eggers, who has been critically praised for his work thus far, seems a natural fit for the subject matter. Skarsgard, who is good at transforming himself completely into the monsters he inhabits, will also no doubt prove terrifying and apt.
Eggers' star in the horror world is already high, which bodes well for the release of this highly-anticipated Nosferatu project, which will be a big draw for classic horror fans as well as fans of Eggers' more recent frights. His penchant for creating slow-build dread seems right in line with what will make for a new adaptation of Nosferatu—a film that thrives on slow-burn horror in a world of jump scares and action thrillers.
Eggers' Nosferatu is in development and set to be released by Focus Features, with no release date yet planned.
Source: Deadline