In spring 2022, Screen Rant was one of a select group of publications to visit the set of Universal's Renfield, where we had the chance to speak to Nicholas Hoult, who stars in the title role as Dracula's loyal henchman. In addition to his Emmy-nominated comedy performance on Hulu's The Great, Nicholas Hoult has made a name for himself in Hollywood through his eclectic slate of film roles from various franchises and genres. The actor has notably appeared in the zombie movie Warm Bodies as R, George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road as Nux, and the black comedy horror movie The Menu as Tyler. As he takes the spotlight in Renfield, Hoult fittingly adds another eccentric horror-comedy to his accomplished resumé.
Directed by Chris McKay and based on an original idea from Robert Kirkman, Renfield is a horror comedy spin on the classic tale of Dracula set in modern-day New Orleans. After centuries of servitude and obeying every debased command of his narcissistic boss Dracula (played by Nicolas Cage), Renfield realizes there may be more to life outside the Prince of Darkness' shadow, which means navigating how to end his codependency. While forming an unlikely connection with disgruntled traffic cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina), Renfield's efforts to leave his toxic relationship with Dracula prove to be a difficult task.
While on the set of Renfield, Screen Rant was among a group of reporters who sat down with Nicholas Hoult to speak about the upcoming monster movie. Hoult discussed the nature of Renfield and Dracula's codependent relationship, the movies and performances he watched to prepare for the role, and what it was like to work with Nicolas Cage again after The Weather Man (2005). He also went into detail about his diet of eating real bugs for Renfield.
Nicholas Hoult on Renfield
It sounds like your character goes through quite a journey.
Nicholas Hoult: Yeah. In this film, we pick up with Renfield. He's kind of been working for Dracula for probably around 100 years, just under 100 years or so. So, the Renfield that we've seen in--you know, from Bram Stoker's novels and from previous films, he's kind of been living in his boss's shadow in this very toxic relationship in a Devil Wears Prada way for a while, and then through the circumstance of this film kind of starts to realize that that's not what he wanted in life, and he kind of got tricked and trapped into this relationship. And he starts to find his voice and capability to ultimately become a hero himself.
What's your relationship to Dracula? Did you grow up watching the movies?
Nicholas Hoult: I didn't really grow up watching them too much. I mean, I've been watching a lot of Hotel Transylvania with my little boy, so that's probably more of the Dracula that I know. I mean, I'd seen the--in terms of horror movies, a lot like Young Frankenstein and whichever ones were, like, big through my childhood just coming out in '90s.
Dracula Untold, the movie? Bram Stoker's Dracula?
Nicholas Hoult: I didn't see Dracula Untold. I've seen Bram Stoker's Dracula, obviously. I've gone back and watched a lot of them for this. But, yeah, I wouldn't say they were a big part of my life growing up.
I've gone back to watch and study them, and particularly Dwight Frye's performance, I suppose. Trying to steal some stuff from him when possible, particularly that laugh he [brought]. I do my best. I've gone back and read the book again as well, just to see if there was anything in there. But as I said, we're kind of joining Renfield at a very different point in his journey at the start of this film.
Dwight Frye's Renfield kind of stole the show in the original Dracula. What did you borrow from him? I was going to ask about the laugh, but I'm not going to make you do it if you can't.
Nicholas Hoult: The laugh I have tried to squeeze in a couple of times. Whether it stays in the edit and it keeps in the cut, we'll see.
I was curious about what you borrowed from him and what you do to make it your own, because his performance was so iconically beautiful and sad and manic.
Nicholas Hoult: Yeah. I think this version of Renfield is not probably as manic in this story. He's more worn down by his lifestyle and environment and always having to protect Dracula and how he treats him.
But the laugh, I'd just go back and listen to audio of him. I have a couple of times just taken bits of dialect from the book--or from that iteration of the film and tried to kind of weave that into this dialogue. But again, it's very different, because Ryan Ridley is writing in the more modern tone and voice. So, it's a modern monster take.
How has it been working with Nicolas Cage again?
Nicholas Hoult: It's been so fun. Yeah, we did a film when I was 14. I played his son in a movie, and then I haven't seen him since. But I've been such [a] fan of everything he's done film-wise and acting-wise, but also just particularly recently with Pig, and I've watched the trailer for The Unbearable Weight. Yeah, I've seen that so many times. I was so excited to see it. It's just brilliant to get to spend time with him on set.
And the dedication he's brought to this role and the ideas he's got, the things he's drawing from previous Dracula portrayals and what he's bringing to it is really magical and powerful. And the dynamic between them I think is hopefully really working, because he's just really passionate. He cares, and he loves acting, so he's someone who's dedicated, puts the time and work and wants to grow is very exciting.
Can we talk about Renfield's diet?
Nicholas Hoult: I have been eating some bugs, yeah. Mostly crickets. [I] did try some potato bugs. They weren't so yummy. The crickets were kind of nice, because they get these kind of dried ones that are flavored somewhat. Salt and vinegar I recommend, all these things that I never knew, which is kind of bizarre. I drew the line at, like, tarantulas and scorpions and stuff. And I was like, I don't know if I want a--boiled and, like, shrink wrapped. And I was like, "That doesn't seem so good."
But the props team are amazing. They also create some sweet versions. So, the cockroaches are actually made of caramel. They look exactly like a cockroach but it's just gooey caramel. That was nice, rather than having to eat an actual cockroach. The worms were just gummy worms, and then the earth that they were in was just like ground up chocolate.
Like a dirt cake?
Nicholas Hoult: Yeah. That was a good day. So, there has been some bug eating.
And the concept behind the bug eating, and this obviously tracks back to the idea of that's what gives--him consuming life forces was what gives him power. So, that's kind of what gives him the edge when he's caught in moments of peril. While having to protect Dracula, he eats a bug and gets that extra little bit of juice to be fighting.
About Renfield
In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Nicholas Hoult stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency.
Check out our other Renfield interviews here:
Renfield arrives in theaters on April 14, with a new trailer out on March 22 and tickets going on sale the same day.
