It didn't seem possible to make a 1980s-set vampire thriller starring Oscar Isaac and Kristen Stewart sound even more appealing, but somehow that's exactly what has happened. Deadline reports that Elizabeth Olsen has just joined the cast of Mandy director Panos Cosmatos's film Flesh of the Gods, and based on the description it sounds like she'll be playing one of the fanged monsters.
According to the outlet, Olsen has joined the cast as the inscrutable "Nameless," a leader of a "hard-partying cabal." Nameless seduces married couple Raoul (Isaac) and Alex (Stewart) into her "surrealistic world of hedonism, thrills, and violence." The story unfolds beneath the dazzling and glamorous skies of 1980s Los Angeles, following the wealthy couple as they leave their luxurious condo for the night to venture into the night.
Se7en writer Andrew Kevin Walker is penning the script, based on a story devised by him and Cosmatos. Flesh of the Gods is expected to be part of the international sales at the Cannes market this week. The film hasn't started shooting yet.
Before Olsen became known for playing Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, her fans knew her as an indie darling who broke out in movies like Martha Marcy May Marlene and Wind River. She's not afraid to do blockbuster films, as she also starred in Gareth Edwards's Godzilla, but I've always been more fond of Olsen's indie projects and dramas. She generally picks compelling scripts, so now I'm even more excited to see Flesh of the Gods, which I believe will be one of her first proper horror projects.
Other than that, Olsen recently starred in the thriller The Assessment and will next appear in A24's romantic comedy Eternity. She will also reprise her role as Wanda in a voice-acting role for the upcoming Marvel Zombies series releasing this October.
The rise of vampire media
Flesh of the Gods is just one of many recent vampire-centric projects we've seen in the last couple of years. Vampires have been seeing a significant resurgence as of late, and with the success of Ryan Coogler's original horror movie Sinners we're bound to see even more vampire movies receiving the green light in the coming months.
Apart from the aforementioned titles, last year saw a huge hit in Robert Eggers's take on Nosferatu and on the television side, Interview with the Vampire has been acclaimed for both seasons and will return for a third. In 2024, we also saw the release of Abigail—a loose reimagining of Dracula's Daughter—and a new Salem's Lot adaptation.
And in the future, we now have Olsen's vamp movie to look forward to, along with the Dracula's brides story from Maika Monroe and Chloe Okuno. Even a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is in the works! Yes, it's a great time to be a vampire fan.