It looks like Robert Eggers may get to do his long-gestating passion project after all. Deadline reports that the horror maestro’s remake of “Nosferatu” for Focus Features is now closer than ever to production, with Bill Skarsgard attached to star as the titular vampire. However, there’s a shake-up regarding who will star in the upcoming film, with Anya Taylor-Joy no longer attached.
Instead, Lily Rose-Depp is in talks to star in Eggers’ version of the gothic tale. If cast, Depp will play a young woman in 19th-century Germany stalked by Skarsgard’s vampire, who brings horror and pestilence with him wherever he goes. Eggers has wanted to remake “Nosferatu” for years now. The most recent iteration nearly happened in 2019 for Studio 8 with Taylor-Joy and Harry Styles set to star, but scheduling conflicts caused Eggers to shelve the film.
Eggers is fresh off the release of “The Northman,” his retelling of the Amleth legend, the source material for Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Critics loved Eggers’ Viking saga, but it polarized audiences. As a result, the film made less than $70 million at the global box office.
Skarsgard recently starred in the horror film “Barbarian,” which he also executive produced. He has a busy 2023 ahead of him, with roles in Netflix‘s “Boy Kills World” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” He also has Rupert Sanders‘ “The Crow” reboot on the horizon. As for Depp, she stars in HBO‘s “The Idol” from “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson next. Other recent output includes the apocalyptic Christmas movie “Silent Night.”
So, will Robert Eggers finally get to make his take on “Nosferatu”? The director moved to Prague ahead of the film’s production before its previous version fell apart, so one knows he is dying to make this. And fans of Eggers would love to see his version of the classic horror tale, not to mention another time period for him to tackle with his meticulous production design. Expect updates on this project soon.