Universal Pictures can’t stay out of the vampire business — not surprising considering that they’re the studio that released 1931’s Dracula starring Bela Lugosi — only this time they’re approaching Bram Stoker’s material from a different angle: focusing on his man-servant, Renfield, and now comes word that the count will be played by Nicolas Cage. He is joining Nicholas Hault, who’s been cast in the title role. The film is written by Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead and Invincible, with Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War) directing. Not much is known about the plot at this point — beyond the fact, of course, that Renfield will come across as quite mad, when in actuality the madness is driven by Dracula’s control over him, and that it is going to be set present day rather than being a period piece. It’s going to be interesting to see if this is going to be a straight or more comedic approach. While appearing on the Fat Man Beyond podcast, Kirkman noted, “It’s a story about him being Dracula’s henchman and how shitty a job that is. It’s a fun, extremely violent comedy, because I’ve got a crutch and it’s violence.”
