Considering the sheer multitude of new and returning film projects floating around the wonderful world of Disney’s increasing hold on Hollywood itself, it can be pretty easy to forget about some of the more surreal and obscure, yet no less exciting new offerings. Sure, it’s one thing to get excited for one of the several newStar Warsor Marvel shows and movies on their way. But what about that oneUniversalmovie aboutDracula’s henchman?
An upcoming filmstarring Nicolas Cage as Dracula(no, this isn’t a page out of Mad Libs) is set to tell a new spin on a classic yet underlooked aspect of the famousUniversalmonster. Everybody knows about Dracula himself, but who out there is familiar with his faithful minion who has been around since Bram Stoker’s original novel? The film, namedRenfieldafter that same minion, will focus on him, and it’s got a surprisingly beefy cast to back up this interesting new twist.
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Joining the cast is none other than one of the stars from Syfy’s (and later Amazon Prime’s)The Expanse, Shohreh Aghdashloo. Deadline reports she will be playing a crime lord named Ella in the upcoming film, and she’ll be working alongside some pretty heavy hitters. Alsotaking part inRenfieldisShang-Chi’s Awkwafina, Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road), Adrian Martinez (Stumptown), and Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog). Universal seems to have some pretty big plans for a character most people probably don’t even know about.
The film will star Hoult as Renfield himself, who just wants to make a name for himself and get out from under the influence ofCage’sMalignant-inspired Dracula. Setting out to find a new life for himself, he encounters Awkwafina’s Rebecca Quincy, a traffic cop with a general hatred for all things living and otherwise. Naturally, he falls head over heels for her. At some point, Quincy and her partner Chris (Martinez) find themselves in conflict with Aghdashloo’s intimidating crime boss, adding plenty of twists and turns for this odd new story.
This will be only the latest in Aghdashloo’s seasoned and varied career, which includes appearances in lauded projects like24andHouse of Sand and Fog. Her distinct voice has also landed her roles in games and animated series like theMass Effectgames andNetflix’s surprise hitLeague of Legendstie-inArcane. Her role inRenfieldwill be directed and produced by Chris McKay and written byRick and Mortyscribe Ryan Ridley.
This just goes to show that, even in a world where seemingly everything is a remake or reboot, there’s still room for new ideas in those normally restrictive spaces. Of course, that’s probably unfair to say about all the rehashes going on out there right now, since many of them are genuinely creative takes on their source material. But this is about a patient at an insane asylum who ultimately becomes a lackey to Dracula himself and now wants to carve out his own life. That’s got to be fun to watch.
