Renfield: Who is playing Dracula in the Universal monster movie?

Nicolas Cage is climbing in the coffin for the upcoming Universal monster movie Renfield, based on the iconic character from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Cage will play the Count himself opposite of Nicholas Hoult, who previously landed the title role, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

While it might be hard to imagine Cage playing this legendary blood-sucker in a straight-faced somber adaptation, Renfield will supposedly be more of an adventure film with comedy elements, making the casting a little more sensible. In recent years Cage has steered away from major studio films toward esoteric indies, many of which he’s received acclaim for such as the recent Pig and the Lovecraftian Mandy.

For those unfamiliar with the original 1897 novel by Bram Stoker, Renfield is introduced as a patient in an asylum obsessed with drinking blood in the hopes of becoming immortal. When he meets Dracula, he falls all over himself before the vampire for a chance at eternal life. Dracula gleefully takes the opportunity to torment Renfield with rats and insects, dangling the promise of a life everlasting before him.

Nicolas Cage to star in Renfield as Dracula opposite Nicholas Hoult

We don’t have any plot details to share just yet as the actual plot details are being kept secret. But we do know that the story, which is being brought to life by Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War) is based on an outline created by The Walking Dead‘s Robert Kirkman. Ryan Ridley (Rick & Morty, Ghosted) wrote the script based on Kirkman’s outline.

The Hollywood Reporter says the project is being described as “a modern-day adventure story that is comedic in tone.”

No word on the release date yet for the movie either, but we can probably expect it in late 2022 or early 2023.

Renfield isn’t Cage’s first vampire project. He previously starred in the 1989 comedy horror film Vampire’s Kiss alongside María Conchita Alonso, Jennifer Beals and Elizabeth Ashley.