Universal’s DRACULA Spin-Off RENFIELD Snags New Director

Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie, The Tomorrow War) will step in and taking over directing duties on Universal’s Dracula spin-off flick Renfield. Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman) was previously attached but has since moved on to The Saint reboot.

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Based on an original story outline from The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, it’s believed to take place during the present day and is not a period piece. In Bram Stoker’s original Dracula novel, Renfield was an inmate at a lunatic asylum who was thought to be suffering from delusions but is actually a servant of Dracula.

Ryan Ridley wrote the script. McKay and Kirkman will produce with David Alpert, Bryan Furst, and Sean Furst. Samantha Nisenboim will serve as executive producer.

Universal is really into this rather strange monster movie. Insiders say it’s Kirkman’s mix of humor and action. And speaking of humor and action mixing together, it’s said McKay snagged the position based on his past projects balancing the two tones well.

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But all said and done, even if this turns out to be lackluster, there are still more Universal Movie Monsters on their way. There’s The Invisible Man writer-director Leigh Whannel’s Wolfman with Ryan Gosling. Plus, producer James Wan’s Van Helsing. Not to mention Elizabeth Banks’ The Invisible Woman and Paul Fieg’s Dark Army.

Overall, you could say that I’m looking forward to this new Renfield flick. After all, Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an utter classic and I think we can all agree, Renfield has never been given his proper day in court. Maybe the character will really sing once given the spotlight. I guess we’ll see soon. Here’s hoping they just recast Tom Waits.

Are you up for Universal’s stand-alone Renfield flick?

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