Nicholas Hoult is set to star in Renfield a Universal monster movie focused on Dracula’s enthralled henchman. The Tomorrow War‘s Chris McKay is attached to direct with a script by Ryan Ridley (Rick & Morty, Community) based on a story outline by The Walking Dead-creator Robert Kirkman. The picture will be produced by Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment.
In the original novel and the classic black and white movie, Renfield was an inmate in an insane asylum who falls under Dracula’s control. Renfield is expected to be set in the present day and not a period piece. Based on the talent behind it, this will be a mix of comedy and horror.
After failing to launch a Marvel-like shared universe, dubbed the Dark Universe, following the failure of The Mummy, Universal has decided to try different approaches to its rich catalog of monsters. The first reboot, the low-budget take on The Invisible Man, co-produced by Blumhouse, was a smash. The director of that picture, Leigh Whannell, is tackling The Wolfman starring Ryan Gosling.
Blumhouse has announced plans to make a new Dracula movie with Karyn Kusama directing, but because the Dracula character and story are in public domain, this may not be a Universal picture.
But at Universal, in various stages of development, are Dark Army (an action-comedy to be directed by Paul Feig), The Invisible Woman (a remake of a 1940 “screwball comedy” to star, be produced, and directed by Elizabeth Banks), The Monster Mash (a full-blown musical based on the novelty hit by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, to be directed by Matt Stawski, and written by Will Widger), and a James Wan-produced Van Helsing pic.
Nicholas Hoult received a Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics Choice acting nominations for his role in Hulu’s The Great, of which he also serves as a producer. He will return for the second season which just wrapped weeks ago. He is slated to star in the thriller The Menu with Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Feinnes. Among his recent projects are Those That Wish Me Dead with Angelina Jolie, Hulu’s animated series Crossing Swords, and… um, X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
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