Robert Eggers Pushes His Creative Boundaries with ‘Nosferatu’

There’s something uniquely gritty, chaotic, and authentic about Robert Eggers’ filmmaking. We witnessed it in the eerie village of “The Witch,” where Anya Taylor-Joy succumbed to the allure of butter. We delved deeper into the madness in “The Lighthouse,” as Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe lost their sanity. And who could forget the muddied world of “The Northman”?

Today’s highlight on Filmsweep is none other than Eggers’ upcoming project, “Nosferatu,” where he fearlessly resurrects one of Hollywood’s most iconic vampires. With the experience gained from “The Northman,” a grand production in its own right, Eggers embarks on a horror movie he has passionately pursued for over a decade. Finally, after the release of “The Northman,” he commenced work on his long-cherished endeavor.

The narrative revolves around the enigmatic and ominous Count Orlok, a vampire determined to establish his reign of terror. As he ventures into new territory, he becomes captivated by a young woman named Ellen, who bears a striking resemblance to his lost love. While Ellen’s husband, Thomas Hutter, gradually uncovers the chilling truth about Orlok, he races against time to shield Ellen and their community from the insatiable bloodlust of the monstrous vampire.

Image via Focus Features

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Principal Photography Wraps Up for Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ Remake

In September 2022, it was revealed that Bill Skarsgård would portray the titular character, while Lily-Rose Depp was in negotiations for the role of Ellen. Skarsgård had initially been cast in “The Northman” but had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts. The following month, Nicholas Hoult entered discussions to portray Thomas, and by January, all three actors were confirmed to star, joined by the addition of Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Simon McBurney, Emma Corrin, and Ralph Ineson. Noteworthy filming locations included the 14th-century Rožmitál Castle in Rožmitál pod Tremšínem and Prague’s revered Invalidovna complex, a Baroque architectural gem listed as a national landmark. Principal photography concluded on May 19, 2023.

Robert Eggers Challenges Himself

In an interview with Empire Magazine, Eggers revealed his relentless pursuit of surpassing his own limitations, pushing the boundaries of his artistic capabilities.

“I strive to transcend my own capabilities. As always, it was a demanding shoot. Last night, we were filming a scene on a rain-soaked ship with tumultuous waves, and the rain deflector, designed to keep the lens rain-free, malfunctioned, causing fogging. I’ve spent the past few days collaborating solely with Russian sailors aboard a vessel. I’m incredibly grateful to have made ‘The Northman’ prior to this, as it allowed me to learn invaluable lessons. When I reflect on our initial production plans for ‘Nosferatu,’ I’m confident I would have found a way to overcome obstacles, but it’s hard not to imagine the possibility of failure.”

While “Nosferatu” does not have a confirmed release date yet, stay tuned to Filmsweep for the latest updates. In the meantime, don’t miss our exclusive interview with Eggers about “The Northman” below.

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• Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ Remake Wraps Filming
• Interview with Robert Eggers for ‘The Northman’
• Bill Skarsgård to Star in ‘Nosferatu’ as the Titular Character
• Principal Photography Concludes for ‘Nosferatu’
• Willem Dafoe and Lily-Rose Depp Join the Cast of ‘Nosferatu’