Renfield: Nicolas Cage’s Dracula performance is inspired by Malignant

Just over a month ago, we heard the incredible news that Nicolas Cage will be playing Universal Pictures’ “modern-day adventure story” take on Dracula’s henchman Renfield (with Nicholas Hoult playing the title character). In an interview on Variety‘s Awards Circuit podcast, Cage has now confirmed that he’s approaching this iconic role in exactly the sort of way you’d expect Nicolas Cage to approach the role: by drawing inspiration from a source that most of us would probably never consider. In this case, Cage says his Dracula performance is partly inspired by James Wan’s recent film Malignant.

Cage told Variety,

I want it to pop in a unique way from how we’ve seen it played. So I’m thinking to really focus on the movement of the character. You know, I saw Malignant and I thought what she did with those moves – and even Ringu with Sadako … I want to look at what we can explore with this movement and voice.”

Cage also said he has looked back at previous Dracula performances from the likes of Bela Lugosi, Frank Langella, and Gary Oldman.

Based on a treatment written by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, Renfield will be directed by Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War) from a screenplay by Ryan Ridley (Rick and Morty). In Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, 

R.M. Renfield was an inmate at a lunatic asylum who was thought to be suffering from delusions but actually is a servant of Dracula. Plot details of the movie weren’t announced, but it’s believed to take place during the present day and is not a period piece.

Kirkman has described Renfield as a “violent comedy” and said it’s “a story about him being Dracula’s henchman and how shitty a job that is.” While Universal is developing several monster projects, Deadline previously reported that they’re excited about Renfield because the story’s “mix of humor and action was something the studio was looking for because so many of the other properties have more of a horror element to them.” 

Cage is also excited about the comedic aspect of the film. He said,

What makes it super fun is that it’s a comedy. And when you get that tone right – comedy and horror – like American Werewolf in London, it’s a blast. It’s got to be a bulls-eye. But that’s what I’m looking for, something new to bring to the character, and also that perfect tone of comedy and horror.”

Renfield is being produced by Skybound Entertainment’s film team, including Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan Furst, and Sean Furst. Samantha Nisenboim serves as executive producer.

Cage and Hoult are joined in the cast by Ben Schwartz and Awkwafina. Are you ready to watch Nicolas Cage in Renfield?