Bill Skarsgård is the Stuff of Nightmares in New Nosferatu Trailer
Photos via Focus FeaturesA new trailer has been released for Nosferatu, ahead of its Christmas release. A remake of F. W. Murnau’s 1922 horror classic, which was itself an unauthorized adaptation inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Nosferatu will mark the fourth feature film from director Robert Eggers and has been many years in the making.
The trailer shows more of what we’ve already seen; Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen Hutter is plagued by visions of a shadowy being whose presence she senses near, and whose pull she can’t resist. But if you were hoping to catch a glimpse of Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok, lower your expectations–the famed Count’s appearance still remains largely hidden, with the trailer only offering a brief shot of his eyes and his figure masked behind curtains and clouds to increase the intrigue surrounding the actor’s transformation. The heavy layers of makeup involved in creating Count Orlok have always been something of a fascination and source of urban legend, with actor Max Schreck, who played the count in 1922, eventually being depicted as a “real life” vampire in the 2000 film Shadow of the Vampire by E. Elias Merhige.
Eggers was first reported to have been working on this remake back in 2015, before he announced that he would instead be focusing on other work before returning to this adaptation. Since then, much chatter has surrounded the production of this film; singer Harry Styles and frequent Eggers-collaborator Anya Taylor-Joy were initially cast as Thomas and Ellen Hutter before they both dropped out in 2022 for various reasons. In September 2022, Depp was reported to have replaced Taylor-Joy, with Nicholas Hoult taking over Styles’ role and Bill Skarsgård set to take on the title role.
The trailer suggests that Egger’s distinct aesthetic is put to use in this adaptation, as his penchant for moody atmospheres and striking, dramatic shots (as seen in The Northman) seem perfect for this gothic horror. With a supporting cast that boasts the likes of Willem Dafoe and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nosferatu promises thrills just in time for the holiday season.
The film arrives in theaters on Christmas Day, 2024. You can watch the new trailer below: