BBC’s 'Dracula' Announces New Cast Members as Production Kicks Into Gear
The highly anticipated Dracula series from Sherlock creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss announced several new cast members as production ramps up.
Danish actor Claes Bang was cast as the titular vampire late last year. And considering the fact that Moffat and Gatiss helped make an international superstar out of their last largely unknown leading man – Benedict Cumberbatch – we should probably all start working on pronouncing “Claes” correctly. (It’s CLAY-SS, by the way.)
He’ll be joined in Translyvania by several recognizable faces. Sherlock’s Jonathan Aris, Iron Fist’s Sacha Dhawan, former Bond girl Catherine Schell, Game of Thrones’ Clive Russell, Misfits’ Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and Nightflyers’ Youssef Kerkour have all joined the cast, though their specific roles are yet unknown. And Gatiss himself will apparently also appear in the series in some capacity.
Given what we know of the Dracula story, it’s likely another round of casting announcements is still to come, as this one doesn’t have nearly enough women in it. (I need to know who’s playing Mina Harker, is what I’m saying.)
Filming on the new series officially kicked off earlier this year in Slovakia, but production has now moved to the world famous Bray Studios in England. The venue was once home to Hammer Films, best known for its series of classic horror films which were made in the 1950s and 60s. These include The Curse of Frankenstein, The Mummy and, yes, the famous version of Dracula with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.
"Count Dracula has finally come home." @MarkGatiss confirms filming at Bray Studios as further cast announced for @BBCOne's #Dracula: https://t.co/tJHFfND9sT pic.twitter.com/GvuX5TUIvW
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) April 29, 2019
"It's seriously delightful that our new Dracula is being shot at Bray Studios - the former home of Hammer Films!” Gatiss said in a statement. “This wonderfully atmospheric and legendary studio gave birth to so many famous monsters and stars - most memorably Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. As we watch Transylvania once again rise on the sound stages of Bray, it's amazing to be able to say that Count Dracula has finally come home".
Johnny Campbell, Damon Thomas and Paul McGuigan were also named as directors of the series’ three feature-length installments.
Much of the particulars about this particular take on Dracula are still being kept under wraps. But we do know that, unlike Moffat and Gatiss’ version of Sherlock, this story will not be a contemporary tale. Though it apparently will approach the story Dracula with a more modern sensibility, even though it’s still set in 1897.
There’s no release date for Dracula just yet, but it’ll broadcast in the U.K. on BBC One and come to America on Netflix.
Are you looking forward to this latest Moffat and Gatiss collaboration? Why or why not? Let’s discuss!
