Acclaimed French director Luc Besson is gearing up to helm a big-budget adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. The film, titled ‘Dracula — A Love Tale,’ will function as an origin story for the Prince of Darkness. In this retelling, 15th-century Prince Vladimir, who cursed God following the death of his beloved wife, is turned into a vampire. Later, in 19th-century London, he discovers his wife’s doppelgänger and dooms himself by pursuing her. Christoph Waltz and Caleb Landry Jones are in talks to star in the project, reuniting Besson with his lead from ‘Dogman,’ which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year. EuropaCorp, Besson’s production company, is producing the film.”

Summary

•  Dracula — A Love Tale is a unique reimagining of Dracula’s origin story, mixing horror and romance.
•  Luc Besson and Christoph Waltz team up for this adaptation, promising a fresh take on the classic vampire tale.
•  The film may delve into Dracula’s gothic romance before he became a vampire, adding a new layer to the story.

Since Bram Stoker released his classic horror novel in 1897, Dracula has been adapted to the big screen numerous times. Most recently, The Last Voyage of the Demeter and Renfield loosely adapted Stoker’s work, while another adaptation, Nosferatu, is slated for release later this year. Now, its world is growing once more with yet another Dracula movie adaptation.”

As reported by Deadline, Taken writer Luc Besson is teaming up with Christoph Waltz for Dracula — A Love Tale. The French director is set to helm the adaptation, which will be his own reimagining of the classic tale. Meanwhile, Waltz’s role in the movie remains undisclosed, but Dogman star Caleb Landry Jones has been tapped for the role of Count Dracula.

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Based on the movie’s title, this won’t be a straightforward adaptation of Stoker’s novel. It appears to be a mixture of horror and romance as it tackles Dracula’s origin story. In contrast, the novel doesn’t go into further detail on the vampire’s origins, but it does insinuate he didn’t become one traditionally by being bitten by another vampire. It’s implied that he used dark magic and brilliance to turn himself into a vampire. However, Besson may also draw inspiration for his story from previous adaptations.

In Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula (1992), the titular vampire (Gary Oldman) also turns himself into a vampire through dark magic and forsaking God. However, Dracula – A Love Tale, an upcoming film directed by Luc Besson, takes a different approach. It will explore an origin story to finally reveal how Dracula became a vampire. The movie won’t be a direct adaptation of Bram Stoker’s original novel but will delve into Dracula’s life before he met the Harkers and Renfield. It aims to answer the mystery of how the Count ended up becoming a vampire, shedding light on his past as a soldier, statesman, and alchemist who studied the black arts at the academy of Scholomance in the Carpathian Mountains. The film promises to blend horror and romance, offering a fresh take on the classic vampire tale.

Details surrounding the forthcoming adaptation remain scarce. Nonetheless, Landry Jones is poised to deliver a captivating performance as Dracula, given his recent role as a multifaceted killer in ‘Dogman,’ under Besson’s direction. The production is reportedly in pursuit of additional high-profile actors alongside Waltz. Besson, known for his distinctive visual flair and focus on rich character narratives, has established himself as a formidable director in Europe. While we await further news on ‘Dracula — A Love Tale,’ the prospects for this new rendition are already looking favorable.

Source: ScreenRant

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