Starring Nicolas Cage, Renfield is an upcoming horror movie and yet another big-screen adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula story. Directed by The Tomorrow War’s Chris McKay and written by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, Renfield is in development at Universal Pictures, the studio that created some of the most iconic monster films of all time, including the original 1931 Dracula film. Told from a different perspective from most Dracula movies, Renfield will differ from the majority of its predecessors by dipping more heavily into the comedic genre.
The role of the charming but devious vampire lord has a history in Hollywood that goes back almost a hundred years. Arguably the most memorable versions of Dracula were played by screen legends Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee. Over the years, he’s also been brought to life by the likes of A-list actors John Carradine, Frank Langella, Gary Oldman, Louis Jourdan, and Luke Evans. Universal’s Renfield will see Cage join their ranks by becoming the latest Hollywood star to portray Count Dracula in a big-budget horror movie.
Renfield is one of several monster movies on Universal’s slate. As for what the movie has to offer, details about Renfield – as well as its title – point to it being a rather unique retelling of Stoker’s tale. Looking at what’s been said, Cage’s movie will take the character’s story in a completely different direction than what would typically be expected of a Dracula adaptation. Here’s a guide to everything that’s known about Renfield thus far.
Renfield's Cast & Characters
In addition to Nicolas Cage playing Dracula, Renfield will star Nicholas Hoult, who played Beast in several X-Men movies, as its titular character. In the original story, Renfield was a patient in an asylum who drank the blood of rats in the hopes of achieving immortality. He became the chief henchman of Count Dracula and agreed to do his bidding, believing that the vampire lord could grant his greatest wish. Other cast members in Renfield include Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings’ Awkwafina, The Expanse’s Shohreh Aghdashloo, Ben Schwartz, and Adrian Martinez. None appear to be playing characters from Stoker’s Dracula novel. Awkwafina’s character in Renfield is Rebecca Quincy, who has been described as a traffic cop and the love interest of the protagonist.
Renfield's Story: What We Know
The character of Renfield will evolve from a secondary antagonist to the hero of the story for Cage’s movie. The plot will center on the master-and-minion relationship between Dracula and Renfield and what happens once the latter decides to break away from the vampire lord. For the time being, it’s unclear if classic Dracula characters like Van Helsing or Mina Harker will be involved. Based on comments from Kirkman, the conflict between Dracula and Renfield will incorporate heavy doses of violence and comedy.
Renfield Release Date Prediction
Set photos from Renfield have confirmed that shooting for the picture has officially begun. No release date has been announced yet, but filming being underway indicates that it could hit theaters in a year. The most probable release window is early 2023. However, audiences seeing Renfield at the end of 2022 instead is at least a possibility that hasn’t been ruled out.