Writer-Director Robert Eggers is known for his dark, broody films such as Nosferatu, The Lighthouse and The Witch. Eggers specializes in history-driven horror, thriller and drama, and his next project should fit right in with his prior works of art.
Warner Bros. and Eggers are currently working on a proposed re-telling of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, which Eggers would both write and direct. A Christmas Carol has been remade many, many times, and this version would likely lean into the ghost story and horror elements of the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge.
The original novella was written in 1843 by Charles Dickens, who was reportedly inspired to write it after visiting the Field Lane Ragged School, which was inhabited by street children. Seeing the treatment of poor people, he began to wonder what would happen if a selfish, rich person were to experience redemption after being confronted by his past (and possible future).
It seems fitting that one of Eggers’ next projects would be a Christmas release, especially since this past holiday season’s Nosferatu was a big hit. Nosferatu brought in more than $181 million dollars worldwide after its release, and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards.
Although A Christmas Carol is still in the very early planning stages, Willem Dafoe is reportedly being considered for the role of Scrooge. Dafoe has appeared in major roles in Nosferatu, The Northman and The Lighthouse, so he and Eggers definitely have a history together.
In A Christmas Carol, the rich and cruel Ebenzer Scrooge does not observe Christmas in any meaningful way. He refuses his nephew’s invitation to Christmas dinner, refuses to donate any of his money to help the poor, and though he gives his employee Bob Cratchit Christmas Day off, he obviously does not want to.
On Christmas Eve night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, who informs him that three more ghosts will be visiting him: they represent Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. As each of the ghosts show him scenes from his own life, he also gets a glimpse into the lives of Cratchit and his nephew Fred. And scariest of all, he sees how little he will be mourned after his own death.
Chris Columbus, Elenor Columbus and Robert Eggers are producing A Christmas Carol, which will follow Eggers’ next film Werwulf, set to begin filming later this year.