Castlevania ended without plans for a season 5, but an adaptation of Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow with Soma Cruz as the protagonist would be perfect for a potential future project. The final season of Castlevania concluded in 2021, with Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard getting a surprisingly happy ending. Netflix then made plans for a sequel series, which will follow Trevor and Sypha's descendant and popular game character Richter Belmont during the French Revolution. However, Netflix has yet to tap into the best option for a Castlevania sequel: the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS Castlevania games which are set in more modern times.
Whereas Castlevania took place around 1476 (the year Dracula's Curse, the game it was based on took place), Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and later Dawn of Sorrow took place in the near future, in the year 2035/36. The games introduced a new protagonist, Soma Cruz; an eighteen-year-old Japanese student who had no connection to either the Belmont or Belnades families. However, he was later joined by their descendants, Julius Belmont and Yoko Belnades, as well as the undead son of Dracula (and fan favorite character), Alucard. Soma was unique, as he actually turned out to be the physical reincarnation of Dracula. The games thus saw him work with Belmont, Belnades, and Alucard to try and stop the return of the dark lord once again.
Netflix's Castlevania TV series was beloved for its gritty tone, unrelentingly bloody violence, and, most of all, its fantastic cast of characters, but adapting Aria of Sorrow would give the series a new edge in the form of a modern setting and a profoundly different main character. Soma Cruz was completely unlike Trevor, Richter, or Simon Belmont. The character was completely recontextualized by virtue of being a modern-day citizen and an unwitting vessel of Dracula. Additionally, he possessed the amazing ability to absorb the souls of his enemies and take their powers for himself. The potential for both striking visuals and dramatic, emotional storylines were thus seemingly limitless with Soma at the helm of a new series.
An Aria of Sorrow adaptation would also benefit from its modern setting, lending the series a fresh aesthetic. Though Netflix's Richter-focused spin-off would undoubtedly feel new in terms of its landscape and timeframe, nothing would compare to introducing guns and cars into the so-far Medieval world of Castlevania. Of course, audiences would expect gothic iconography, magic, and the Vampire Killer whip, but a modern setting wouldn't mean getting rid of these elements. Aria of Sorrow proved that a Castlevania game set in the near future could work, and another spin-off series could prove the same for the Castlevania TV series.
An adaptation of Aria of Sorrow would also benefit from a colorful cast of characters to adapt. The games featured modern counterparts for Trevor and Sypha and the return of Alucard himself. As such, audiences could expect the return of Netflix's Alucard, once again voiced by James Callis. However, the games also saw Soma aided by many other characters, such as his childhood friend Mina Hakuba and a merchant named Hammer. The series could even imagine an internal confrontation between Soma and the spirit of Dracula, giving audiences the return of the iconic Graham McTavish to the role. Soma's trauma with becoming Dracula was always an essential part of his story, and with such a beloved interpretation of the dark lord, Netflix would surely seek to have him return to the series in some capacity.
The future of Castlevania series looks bright. However, once the Richter-centric spin-off has concluded, or perhaps even alongside it, an adaptation of the events of Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow would be the logical next step. Soma Cruz is a perfect protagonist to explore mature contemporary issues through, and he could provide intense and visually stimulating action thanks to his ability to absorb souls. Additionally, its modern setting would allow the spin-off to stand on its own two feet whilst remaining unmistakably faithful to the spirit of the original Castlevania TV series.