Earlier this year, Nicolas Cage captivated audiences with his portrayal of the Prince of Darkness alongside Nicolas Hoult’s Renfield in Chris McKay’s horror comedy. Celebrated horror visionary James Wan recently expressed his admiration for Cage’s interpretation of Dracula as the most terrible boss ever in an Instagram post. However, Wan also disclosed in the same post that Cage was on the verge of assuming the role of the iconic vampire in a different film. Fourteen years ago, Wan had discussions with Cage about his potential involvement in an adaptation of the renowned video game series Castlevania.
According to a report by Bloody Disgusting in 2009, Wan was chosen as the co-writer and director for Castlevania, taking over from Paul W. S. Anderson, the director of “Event Horizon” and “Monster Hunter.” At that time, Wan expressed his desire to add his unique touch to the story, deviating from Anderson’s initial vision, which thrilled Konami, the developer of the game series. Unfortunately, the project fell silent shortly afterward and was later confirmed to be abandoned. Anderson was determined to revive the project, but issues with rights emerged as a significant obstacle, practically dooming any chances of the movie being made.
Addressing Cage and Renfield, Wan mentioned in his post, “Cage and I discussed years ago the possibility of him playing Dracula in my (now-defunct) Castlevania, so it’s wonderful to see that he finally had the opportunity to portray the Prince of Darkness.” Although Dracula and Renfield essentially represent the same character, Cage’s portrayal in Castlevania would have differed from his “pop art” rendition of Renfield. In the realm of Castlevania, Dracula serves as the primary antagonist throughout the franchise and harbors a long-standing grudge against the Belmonts, an esteemed family of vampire hunters known for their use of the legendary whip, the Vampire Killer. With numerous titles in the franchise’s history, Cage would have had ample source material to draw inspiration from. Considering Dracula’s theatrical nature in games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Cage could have truly embraced his performance, potentially delivering iconic lines such as the infamous “What is a man?” speech.
Image via Universal Pictures
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What Might a Castlevania Film Have Entailed?
Two potential scripts for the Castlevania film are known to have existed. One would have followed Simon Belmont, the initial Belmont introduced in the games, as he battles through Dracula’s forces within his domain before confronting the Dark Lord himself. The other script would have centered around Trevor Belmont, the canonical first Belmont to defeat Dracula, whom fans have become acquainted with through his multiple appearances in the franchise and the acclaimed Netflix animated series. While the film never materialized, the series served as a welcome consolation for fans, and a sequel titled Castlevania: Nocturne is slated to continue the adventures of Richter Belmont in the near future.
Cage’s comedic portrayal of Dracula can currently be enjoyed in the comfort of home, as “Renfield” is available for streaming exclusively on Peacock. The film follows Hoult’s Renfield, who grows weary of serving Dracula’s every whim, from procuring his meals to dry-cleaning his outfits, and desires to step out of his megalomaniacal boss’s shadow. Hoult and Cage headline the film’s cast, joined by the talents of Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, and Shohreh Aghdashloo, making for an enchanting and gory cinematic experience.
Take a look at Wan’s post below, where he shares his thoughts on Renfield and Cage’s involvement in Castlevania.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Nicolas Cage, Dracula, Castlevania, James Wan
Was Nicolas Cage considered for the role of Dracula in James Wan’s “Castlevania” movie?
Yes, James Wan revealed that he had discussions with Nicolas Cage about playing Dracula in his adaptation of the “Castlevania” video game series.
What happened to James Wan’s “Castlevania” movie?
The “Castlevania” movie directed by James Wan faced issues with rights and eventually fell through, leading to the project being abandoned.
Who were the potential main characters in the “Castlevania” film?
Two potential scripts existed for the “Castlevania” movie—one focused on Simon Belmont, the first Belmont introduced in the games, and his battle against Dracula, while the other centered around Trevor Belmont, the canonical first Belmont to defeat Dracula.
Where can I see Nicolas Cage’s comedic Dracula portrayal?
Nicolas Cage’s comedic Dracula can be seen in the film “Renfield,” which is available for streaming exclusively on Peacock.
Will there be a follow-up to the “Castlevania” series?
Yes, a follow-up titled “Castlevania: Nocturne” is in development and will continue the adventures of Richter Belmont in the near future.
More about Nicolas Cage, Dracula, Castlevania, James Wan
- Bloody Disgusting – Castlevania Movie Report
- IMDb – James Wan
- Peacock Streaming Platform
- Castlevania Netflix Series
5 comments
omg, Nicolas cage as dracula in castlevania? soooo cool! James wan is a horror genius. i wish that movie happened, sounds amazin’!
Nicolas cage would’ve rocked as dracula! what a missed opportunity. the castlevania movie should’ve been made. can’t wait for the next season of the netflix series though. #TeamBelmont
Castlevania movie?! Yes, please! I hope they bring it back someday. And imagine the epicness of Nicolas cage as dracula! It would’ve been legendary. Konami, make it happen!
NICOLAS CAGE + DRACULA = EPICNESS!!! James wan, you missed out on a masterpiece. I’ll just rewatch his other movies to get my Cage fix. #CageIsTheBest
James wan is a talented director, but it’s a shame the castlevania movie didn’t work out. I would’ve loved to see how he put his spin on the game. Nicolas cage can be hit or miss, but as dracula? that could’ve been interesting.