Vampires is an ever-evolving genre of horror films, specifically the story of the iconic blood-sucker Dracula. We’ve seen Bram Stoker’s iconic character adapted with modern action reboots, Francis Ford Coppola dramas, and arthouse classics, and Universal Pictures and filmmaker Chloe Zhao are now taking this story in a brand new direction.
The director behind Nomadland and the upcoming Marvel movie Eternals, Zhao is now working on adapting the Dracula tale, says Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter. Known for her unique style of filmmaking, she’s planning to take this story in a new route, with the report calling it a “futuristic, sci-fi Western.”
“Chloé’s singular lens shines a light on stories of the overlooked and misunderstood,” said Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer. “We are thrilled to be working with her as she reimagines one of the most iconic outsider characters ever created.”
While there are very few details about the project, it’s noted that her version will have themes that look at society’s fringes, something Zhao has explored below with films like The Rider and Nomadland.
The filmmaker went on to say this about her Dracula film: “I’ve always been fascinated by vampires and the concept of the Other they embody. I’m very excited to work with Donna, Peter, and the team at Universal to reimagine such a beloved character.”
Along with Zhao’s movie, Universal also has a new modern Dracula project in the works with Blumhouse Productions and director Karyn Kusama (Destroyer), while Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman) was also announced as working on a Renfield movie back in 2019 although its status is unclear at present.
