Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman) is directing a remake of the horror classic Nosferatu, and Deadline reports that Willem Dafoe is in talks to join the cast. Dafoe was of course recently directed by Eggers in The Lighthouse, and it’s worth noting that Dafoe actually played Max Schreck/Count Orlok in the 2000 film Shadow of the Vampire.
Dafoe’s role in the Eggers remake, however, is unknown at this time.
Bill Skarsgard and Lily-Rose Depp recently came on board the ship as well, with Robert Eggers planning to make Nosferatu as his next movie for Focus Features.
Bill Skarsgard will reportedly be playing Nosferatu/Count Orlok in the film.
Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies, Renfield) is also part of the cast.
Deadline’s report indicates, “In the new reimagining, the pic is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman (Depp) in 19th century Germany and the ancient Transylvanian vampire (Skarsgard) who stalks her, bringing untold horror with him.”
Eggers (The Witch, The Northman) is directing and he also wrote the script.
F.W. Murnau directed the original 1922 version of Nosferatu, while fellow German filmmaker Werner Herzog notably directed his own version of the classic tale back in 1979.
[Related] Creeping Shadows: Why ‘Nosferatu’ Still Holds Up 100 Years Later
The 1922 silent movie followed the vampire Count Orlok, who wants to buy a house in Germany and becomes enamored with the real-estate agent’s wife. It was an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” which almost led to all copies being destroyed. Nevertheless, Nosferatu still endures after all these years, and it looks like he’ll soon return…
Willem Dafoe in ‘Shadow of the Vampire’