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A Dracula Origins Story?

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (37)

oldman3.jpg

The amazing thing about the Twilight franchise is how it’s spawned so many more movies about vampires set in all sorts of wacky situations. You want vampires with Southern accents, then watch “True Blood.” You want vampire zombies, then look no further than the upcoming Daybreakers. A high-school girl torn between two vampires? Check out The CW’s “Vampire Diaries.” College kids partying with vampires? Check out Transylmania! Man: I can’t wait for the remake of DC Cab with vampires!

You know what’d be cool, though? A vampire movie where vampires actually act like fucking vampires! I doubt that this will be that movie, but Summit Entertainment — hopped up on the success of Twilight — is dipping their pen back into the well and stabbing it into our eyes with Vlad, something of a Dracula remake which focuses on Dracula while he was still the young prince, Vlad.

There is some decent talent attached, thankfully: Charlie Hunnam, the watered-down British version of Heath Ledger (see: “Undeclared”) penned the script, which is being developed by Brad Pitt’s Plan B production company. (Hunnam is also a cast member on “Sons of Anarchy,” which I haven’t seen, which I only mention to elicit your bitchery.) Music video director Anthony Mandler (“Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood”) is in negotiation to direct, though no cast is yet in place. It’s expected to be stylistically similar to 300, because if it’s not in 3D, then Hollywood mandates that it be in the style of 300 (bonus points if it’s both).

It’s a fairly interesting concept, which I suppose could be done well. Brad Pitt’s involvement is encouraging, though Summit’s is not, particularly. Maybe they’ll rewrite the vampire mythology in order to better suit their Twilight needs. Maybe Prince Vlad liked to bathe in glitter.

(Source: Slashfilm)









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Comments

So much italics, must turn head sideways....

OK, even I, vampire (or as my godson says, grampire) lover extreme, am just about vampired-out.

Posted by: Drake at December 7, 2009 5:35 PM

Charlie Hunnam, the watered-down British version of Heath Ledge

Spot on. I've been callin' him the poor man's Heath Ledger for years. He's not a very good actor, but he's serviceable, I suppose.

Posted by: pissant at December 7, 2009 5:37 PM

Old Vlad was quite the hero in his day. He drove out the infidels and nailed their turbans to their heads, and put them up on spikes if they complained. A Vlad movie could be quite a gorefest if done right.

Posted by: BWeaves at December 7, 2009 5:37 PM

hey, you forgot to close your "i" tag.

Posted by: Carrie at December 7, 2009 5:39 PM

Don't you know, Drake? Real vampires talk in italics.

Posted by: linny at December 7, 2009 5:46 PM

Has anyone seen the recent Swedish flick "Let the Right One In"? Best vampire film probably of all time... total opposite of all this twilight mess... it'll make you bring out the teddy bear at night.

Posted by: Rachel C at December 7, 2009 6:03 PM

Why italics? It's like you had a stroke part of the way through. Or you decided that the entire second half of the article required emphasis.

Shit, when I looke below, I'm typing in italics now too. I'm debating whether or not I should even leave this comment now, as criticizing the italics loses emphasis when done so in italics. Like writting about book about the evils of the trucking industry and having those books delivered by trucks. Spock would throw a (vulcan) fit.

You know what. Fuck it. And your face. With my face. (I don't need to make sense).

Posted by: superasente at December 7, 2009 6:04 PM

A high-school girl torn between two vampires?

Yum, messy fun to be had by all there.

Posted by: The Wanderer at December 7, 2009 6:19 PM

Oh this is going to SUCK.
Charlie Hunman?
Uch
Way to take a decent concept and wipe your arse with it.
Fuck man, i'm so disenchanted with hollywood lately.
Fuck this shit.

Posted by: Nadine at December 7, 2009 6:22 PM

Has anyone seen the recent Swedish flick "Let the Right One In"? Best vampire film probably of all time... total opposite of all this twilight mess... it'll make you bring out the teddy bear at night.

Hmm...nope, never heard that film even mentioned on this site. Please, tell us all about it.

Posted by: pissant at December 7, 2009 6:29 PM

There's a lot of evidence that Bram Stoker didn't model the character of Count Dracula on Vlad Ţepeş. He took the name "Dracula" from that history, because he liked the association with dragons, but that's about it. Stoker was the late-Victorian version of Dan Brown: his research leaves a lot to be desired. (Stoker, a non-Catholic, gets a lot of Catholicism wrong in the book.)

'Course, this is a re-imagining. They can do whatever they want.

Posted by: Mike B. at December 7, 2009 6:34 PM

You neglected to mention the one vampire project I am still excited about: Guillermo del Toro's The Strain. One book's been published; two more are promised and they expect to make at least one movie. I love del Toro's movies.

You also failed to mention another vampire project I'm far less excited about: Bram Stoker's great-grandson, or great-great-grandson, or whatever, is "collaborating" on (which I think means that actually some marketing committee is writing it and he will put his name on it) a Dracula sequel, or prequel, or whatever. That one will probably stink like vampire barf.

Posted by: Jerce at December 7, 2009 6:47 PM

I've fucking had it with vampires. It's this Twilight crap which is probably making Dustin go all italicsy. Vampire glitter, vampires in love, teeny vampires, angsty vampires, vampire cartoons, PG 13 Vampire films, vampire books aimed at 12 year olds... make it fucking stop!

I'm gonna watch Let The Right One In. If it doesn't deliver I'm gonna go on a vampire strike at least until the whole Twilight saga is over.

Posted by: barf at December 7, 2009 6:48 PM

Mmmmm, vampire barf.

Posted by: MM at December 7, 2009 6:49 PM

Real vampires talk in italics.

Posted by: linny at December 7, 2009 5:46 PM

HA! They totally do.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at December 7, 2009 6:53 PM

@ Jerce: "Bram Stoker's great-grandson, or great-great-grandson, or whatever, is "collaborating" on (which I think means that actually some marketing committee is writing it and he will put his name on it) a Dracula sequel, or prequel, or whatever."

That'd be Dacre Stoker, Bram's great-grandnephew (which smacks a bit of the "What does that make us?" "Absolutely nothing" of family trees). And the book, a continuation, is already out: Un-Dead. And it's as well-written as you'd expect a ghost-written-by-committee-Hey-what's-your-name?-Dacre?-Really? novel would be.

Posted by: Mike B. at December 7, 2009 6:57 PM

Silly sidenote, but speaking of crappy remakes &/or bad ideas.
Just last night I was looking something Disney up for my somewhat computer challenged Dad (and you thought I was behind the times with this stuff) and
came across.... now in production for 2010, The Sorcerers Apprentice. It's
going to be 'loosely based' on the original poem/story (blech). With [wait for it] ............. one Nicolas Cage in one of the lead roles.
Here's a link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0963966/

Seriously, I ask you "WHY!?". Produced by J Bruckheimerston and being done
by Disney. aRgh. As if the animated piece in Fantasia (included in both versions
of said film no less) was not all was needed to see when it comes to junior
magicians and spunky broom & water pail madness.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at December 7, 2009 7:04 PM

Real vampires talk in italics.

Posted by: linny

Oh, that explains it. Thanks!

Posted by: Drake at December 7, 2009 7:13 PM

Jerce, is the Strain about vampires? That's good to know.
I started reading it but I'm one of those who has about waytoofuckingmany books on the go at once, so I read the first few chapters only to set it aside and read something else that was easier to carry on my twice monthly train journey to visit my luverr.

But if it's about vampires I'll move it to the top of the list of books-to-be-read since I'm dying for a good, visceral vampire book.
I've just finished Let The Right One In, so i'm waiting a few months before I re-read it...well, in theory. I'm also waiting for the bf to finish Handling The Undead, so I really need a good book to stick my head in and leave it in.
I'll be re-reading Dracula, and I'm debating, DEBATING, the semi official sequel, though any sequel not written by the original author is going to be ...well it's gonna have to work hard to win me over

Posted by: Nadine at December 7, 2009 7:51 PM

Now why would you expect bitching by mentioning Sons of Anarchy? I fucking love that show.

Ya know what? I'm going to jump on my Harley (I don't have one), ride to Portland or where ever the fuck you live (note: that would be really cold), beat the crap out of you with my helmet (because that's what cool bikers do), and then cut off your fingers save for your index fingers (so you can still type).

By the way, I remember watching Nicholas Nickleby going "How the fuck do I know this guy?" and then realizing that it was Jax when he started beating the crap out of that one dude.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at December 7, 2009 8:40 PM

...if vampires speak in italics, do werewolves speak in bold?

Posted by: Daniel Hall at December 7, 2009 10:00 PM

Okay, so I saw the header picture, squeed despite the old man (pun not intended) makeup, clicked on the post and this is what I saw. And thought.

Blah blah blah young Dracula (ooo, is Gary Oldman going to make an appearance as Dracula Sr. or something) blah blah whatever blah more blah poor man's Heath Ledger (okay, Gary Oldman's name is going to come up any time now) blah blah blah Brad Pitt's Plan B (this could bode well) blah somethingorother blah Snoop Dogg (Noooo!! Snoop Dogg?! What the fuck? This is not going well.) blah blah blah style of 300 (washed out sepia, mmmm) blah blah blah Prince Vlad bathe in glitter (now there's a thought to file away...wait, no Gary Oldman? Fuck this then).

The end.

Posted by: stardust at December 7, 2009 10:22 PM

Well, mummies obviously use wingdings.

Posted by: Mrcreosote at December 7, 2009 10:40 PM

Charlie Hunnam is in two shows I like including doing spectacular work in my current favorite. I'm certainly willing to give this already respectable concept a chance.

Posted by: trippdup at December 7, 2009 10:51 PM

DiestBrawler, you get yourself a harley and I might just have to stalk you!
I love me some SOA. Katie Segall is a goddess and I loved that Henry Rollins was in it this season. Playing so against type was nice to see. On his website he blogged about some of his fans being upset with him for playing this kind of character. I myself loved seeing him to get the opportunity to actually act.
In case you hadn't guessed I'm a hardcore Rollins fan. He's one of the few celebs I went out of my way to meet. Nicest guy. Stays after shows and talks to as many people as there are waiting. Very cool!

Posted by: trixie at December 8, 2009 1:29 AM

For some reason I expected Vampires to speak in bitchy "air-quotes" glad to see I was wrong.

Posted by: Mebe at December 8, 2009 1:34 AM

And zombies speak with underlines. Check it:

Braaaaaaaiiins.

Posted by: Daniel Hall at December 8, 2009 1:40 AM

Yeah, the dissing of Hunnam will not stand. Sons of Anarchy is fantastic. It took a few eps of season 1 to even out but once the actors got a handle on the characters it has been stellar. Charlie Hunnam in particular so troll else where, sir.

30 Days of Night got roundly dismissed but it is well worth checking out if you haven't. There's not much to it plot wise, but the vampires are brutal, there is zero levity, and the cinematography is great. And "The Strain" is well worth reading, really creepy book.

Posted by: TylerDFC at December 8, 2009 7:47 AM

Wonder if Dark Shadows is still a go? Johnny Depp was set to play Barnabus Collins. That's a vampire movie I'm looking forward to. I loved the remade series in the 90's, and I caught the orginal on Sci Fi when they showed it.

Posted by: Dingle Berry at December 8, 2009 8:25 AM

You shut your mouth. Charlie Hunnam is the bees knees. Granted SOA is the only thing I've seen him in (that I know of) but you shut up. Nobody talks about my man like that.
In all seriousness, I haven't seen him in anything else, but he's impressed the hell out of me in SOA.

Posted by: Whorish Mouth at December 8, 2009 8:55 AM

I would love to see The Historian made into a movie, it was a fascinating vampire-related book with a lot of early Vlad history. This sounds a little meh to me.

And what do werewolves speak in? Bold? Or maybe Impact?

Posted by: Katers at December 8, 2009 9:19 AM

Watch Thirst and Frostbitten, yo

Posted by: Steph at December 8, 2009 9:31 AM

I think Hunnam is more than ok in SoA, too - but I also think we're missing the point. There's no word that he'll be acting in this. He's just written it. So, what do we know about his scripting skilz?
I got nothing.

Posted by: tarn at December 8, 2009 10:24 AM

pissant (and anyone else who's interested) -

Whether or not, you're into vampire movies, Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In) [2008] will blow your mind. Its in Swedish - but this acutally adds to the atmosphere of the movie. It follows the story of a 12 year old Swedish boy who befriends (unknowing to him) a vampire who has moved in next door, who appears as a 12 year old girl. The movies follows their devloping friendship and his discovery of what she (it?) really is.

Its received all around fantastic reviews, and they're already planning an American remake (ugh) - totally worth the time to check out.

Here are so other reviews:
New York Times:
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/movies/24righ.html

Rotten Tomatos: 98%
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lat_den_ratte_komma_in/

Posted by: Rachel C at December 8, 2009 1:08 PM

@Rachel C: Pajiba already reviewed LTROI. And yes, it is quite yummy.

Posted by: Minty at December 8, 2009 4:42 PM

"Let the Right One In" was a very good movie, but it's not the second coming, folks. I get the impression people feel intellectual and elite for having seen it, and so like to mention the fact that they have at every possible chance.

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Posted by: branty at December 9, 2009 1:33 PM