With production finally underway on the movie, Willem Dafoe is sharing some insight of his bizarre preparation for the Nosferatu remake. The latest unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula novel comes from recent horror genre vet Robert Eggers, best known for his work on The Witch and The Lighthouse, as well as the historical epic The Northman. Eggers is bringing back a number of his prior collaborators for his take on Nosferatu, including Ralph Ineson and Willem Dafoe.
While speaking with Collider to discuss the newly released thriller Inside, Willem Dafoe was asked about his latest project from Robert Eggers, the Nosferatu remake. The star shared his excitement for reuniting with The Lighthouse director, revealing some of the bizarre prep he's undergoing for the film, namely growing out his hair and facial hair. See what Dafoe shared in the comments and video below:
I just love working with Robert Eggers. I had a wonderful time. I saw The Witch, and I liked it so much. I arranged a meeting with him. We liked each other. Then I did The Lighthouse, which was a fantastic experience, and I think it's a very good movie. Then I did a little part in The Northman, which I really enjoyed, and now I get to do this. So I'm just happy to be back with him. It's Nosferatu, his version of Nosferatu. This is why I have this mustache and [sideburns] because we're shooting now. I start in just a little bit. I'm just excited to be with him again. He's a great filmmaker, and I enjoy his company.
Why Eggers & Dafoe Always Make A Good Pairing
With just three films under his belt to this point, Eggers has proved to be a consistent talent behind the camera, with The Witch and The Lighthouse helping further A24's mainstream status as well as introducing the world to Anya Taylor-Joy in the former. Of his frequent collaborators, Dafoe's performances in The Lighthouse and The Northman, even if just a cameo in the latter, has scored some of the best reviews of the actor's career, even if not landing major awards nominations.
One of the biggest reasons for Eggers and Dafoe's success partnering together thus far has been for their shared interest in experimental storytelling. The Lighthouse, a re-envisioning of an Edgar Allan Poe short story, was largely inspired by both the filmmaker's prior theater experience, in which Dafoe also got his start in, and the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Herman Melville, resulting in a very unique and old-fashioned dialect that only as committed a performer as Dafoe could authentically bring to life.
Much like its predecessor, The Northman may have used Dafoe minimally, but he similarly dove completely into his Viking jester role. While it has been confirmed that fellow Eggers vet Ralph Ineson will portray the version of Nosferatu's head of the asylum where Renfield is held, Dafoe's Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz seems to be a new character, making it unclear how big of a role he'll have in the horror movie remake.
Source: Collider