Nicolas Cage is an actor who has crafted a career that has seen him become action heroes, villains, and even exaggerated versions of himself. However, his latest role breaks more new ground for the National Treasure star, who will become Dracula in the upcoming Universal comedy horror movie Renfield. Although it can be easy to dismiss new versions of the tried and tired Bram Stoker’s creation, Renfield promises to bring something entirely new to the Dracula canon, which could see Cage become an iconic Count for a new generation.
Renfield is the latest attempt from Universal to revive their long-dead Monsters franchise. Having seen Tom Cruise single-handedly kill off the proposed Dark Universe, the idea of an interconnected world based on the classic movie monster IP seems to have been abandoned in favor of some stand-alone contemporary takes on the greatest ghouls of the Universal vault.
Following the tense and traumatizing version of The Invisible Man in 2020, Universal is now unleashing a more comedic side with Renfield. The film centers on Nicolas Hoult as the titular put-upon servant of the blood-sucking Count, who is no longer confined to a psychiatric ward cell but is instead an employee of Dracula who dreams of breaking free from his crappy boss. Nicholas Cage plays said boss in the movie, and even though the actor has confessed that he does not have a lot of screen time, he can really make an impact in a crowded Dracula market.
Nicolas Cage Has the Kind of Over-the-Top Appeal to Thrive as Dracula
Dracula has been played many times as a dark, brooding character over the last 90 years. Whether stalking castle hallways or preying on people in a more modern setting, only a handful of movies have dared to play with the gothic horror of the original Bram Stoker novel and its many adaptations. This is where Nicolas Cage can come in and really work his magic.
Cage has always been able to perform with a manic, over-the-top glee that can come to the fore and make his version of Dracula one that is both funny, scary, and memorable. Cage’s recent role as a fictional version of himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent has once again reminded people of how good Cage can be when given the right ridiculous situation. Renfield could be the perfect vehicle for Cage to continue to showcase his outlandish comedy style as his Count terrorizes his oppressed workforce. According to David Alpert, CEO of Skybound Entertainment, the film is going to be unlike any Dracula movie before it, and he previously said:
“There's been a million Dracula stories, but I guarantee you have never seen this take on Dracula, or the notion that Renfield and Dracula are in a co-dependent relationship and that Dracula's the ultimate narcissist. It's one of those things that once you hear it, you're like, "Ah, of course." You call somebody a psychic vampire at work. You're like, "Oh, no, no. He is not only a psychic vampire, he's the vampire." You play those dynamics.”
This certainly sounds as though the film can allow Cage to continue to play his comedy chops off. Still, for anyone worried that this may all be about to go the way of the badly executed Mel Brooks movie Dracula: Dead and Loving It, which starred Leslie Nielsen, there is another reason why Cage can not only make this version of Dracula his own but also ensure that it doesn’t end up just another campy, one-dimensional take on the Count.
Renfield’s Dracula Takes Inspiration From The Past
Nicolas Cage has been doing his homework before taking on the role of Dracula. Although there is little doubt that the actor will be putting his own spin on the nuances of the Count, Cage previously cited Christopher Lee as his main point of reference, but he also noted that playing a character that has been adapted so many times is certainly a challenge. He said:
"The concept of Dracula, in itself, is a challenge. It’s been done so many times already. It’s been done very well and it’s also been done not very well. I certainly admire Christopher Lee and Frank Langella and Bela Lugosi and Gary [Oldman]. But I wanted to see if I could bring something fresh to the character. And I also kind of always knew I had to do it at some point."
Taking inspiration from some of the classic Draculas of years gone by and injecting Cage’s personal flare is what could set his version of the Count apart from his predecessors. Cage explained how he wanted Dracula to act as though his vampirism is something of an addiction and to explore the way that could drive the character’s way of treating people. While the context of Renfield alone lends itself to a completely different take on Dracula, Cage seems intent on exploring the mind and actions of the Count in a way that has never been explored in more classical Dracula adaptations.