The upcoming Dracula film, Dracula: A Love Tale, sees French filmmaker and The Fifth Element and Léon: The Professional directorLuc Besson reuniting with DogMan star Caleb Landry Jones in a reimagining of the iconic vampire. This adaptation will present a somewhat different version of Dracula to the audience, exploring how Dracula came to be after love was ripped away from him, leading him to renounce God and live for eternity as punishment.
Jones plays the titular vampire lord Dracula, previously known as Prince Vlad of Wallachia. In an interview with Collider, Jones discussed how he got the role and revealed how he approached his portrayal of this age-old character. He revealed he was approached by Besson for the role of Dracula before they even began filming their first film together, DogMan. In terms of preparation, Jones focused on what Besson wanted to see from this new take on Bram Stoker’s beloved creation.
“For me, all of this stuff goes out the window, and it is more about meeting Luc in a space of what he wants and a way for myself to make sense of things that make it what he wants… It is more like the script comes, then I make sense of this for myself in a way. Then you start these things that he gives you that you need, like the stunts or the horses or the costume or the armor, for example.”
Jones opened up about the differences in this Dracula-based film versus other portrayals of the character, noting there are different powers and rules in each of the adaptations. While Dracula is often depicted as an enigmatic presence, in this film the audience gets to spend a lot more time with him, rather than leaving them guessing. When asked about the love story element of the film, something which Besson has long described as crucial, Jones adds that the love story is very prominent, and they worked very hard to build the chemistry, which ultimately leads to the loss of love that drives Dracula to madness.
“Usually, they take the monster away from you. This one gives the monster to you.
But the love is very much mad about each other, and emphasis on the mad part, absolutely eating each other up, devouring one another for every moment that they are together… Then it gets cut short, and it becomes about longing for this and entering into a kind of madness… It is this love he will do anything for, and has to find a way outside of God to get it back…”
Dracula: A Love Tale Is Due to Land in Theaters Next Year
As teased by the title, Dracula: A Love Tale will present the character as more of a romantic lead as its explores love and its relation to Dracula’s downfall. Based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, Besson aims to showcase the star-crossed love story that led to the monster we all know today. Alongside Jones, starring as his love interest is Zoë Bleu Sidel, with Christoph Waltz, Matilda De Angelis and Haymon Maria Butting in supporting roles. Jones is known for his roles in X-Men: First Class, Get Out, Dogman, and Nitram, among other roles, while Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz is known for his roles in Inglourious Basterds, Spectre and Django Unchained.
The film is written and directed by Luc Besson, with Virginie Besson-Silla set to produce. Besson is best known for the likes of Léon: The Professional, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, Lucy, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, and Dogman.
Dracula: A Love Tale
is set to release in theaters in 2025.