Robert Eggers' upcoming reimagining ofNosferatu, starringBill Skarsgårdas the titular vampire, is apparentlybringing sexy vampires back, just not in the way you might think. Young adult movies and shows likeTwilightandThe Vampire Diarieshave fetishized blood-sucking creatures for millennial audiences. But Eggers' version is putting a nastier spin on audiences' attraction to vampiric creatures, and Skarsgårdpromises audiences will be left feeling “gross.”
Skarsgård recently sat down withEsquireto discuss his starring roles in two of this year’s most-anticipated remakes,The CrowandNosferatu. While discussing his work on Eggers' latest horror film, Skarsgård was asked the all-important question thatTwilighthas left horror fans wondering, anytime a new vampire movie is made: ‘Is he sexy?’ Skarsgård took his time answering the question, starting off by saying “he’s gross.”
While that sounds like a far cry from Robert Pattinson’s tenure as the sunlight-glistening,brooding Edward Cullen inTwilight, Skarsgård then clarified his meaning. Audiences' attraction to Count Orlok (Nosferatu) won’t come from physical appearance (as anyone who’s seen the seminal 1922 silent film can attest), but from the power dynamic and crisis of morality caused by such a powerful creature. He continued:
“But it is very sexualized. It’s playing with a sexual fetish about the power of the monster and what that appeal has to you. Hopefully you’ll get a little bit attracted by it and disgusted by your attraction at the same time.”
Bill Skarsgård Was Originally Cast as Nosferatu’s Protagonist
Nosferatu is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name from director F. W. Murnau. Robert Eggers is crafting his own version of the story for the reboot as writer and director, with Bill Skarsgård stepping into the shoes of Count Orlok. Nosferatu tells the tale of a young woman who falls victim to a vampire utterly infatuated with her.
Robert Eggers’Nosferatuhas been in and out of production hell over the last decade. However, one constant in the project has been Skarsgård’s involvement. The actor met with Eggers for the first round of casting, initially reading for a supporting role as Friedrich Harding, a German ship-merchant. Skarsgård was then offered the leading role as Thomas Hunter, the film’s human protagonist. However, as the movie’s production faltered, Skarsgårdeventually lost that role to Nicholas Hoult.
But Skarsgård was desperate to work with Eggers, comparing hislove of the director’s workto a date. “That’s the closest thing I can compare it to. You get a crush on someone - you can’t stop thinking about that person. I’ve only had it a few times, but that was so true with Robert,” he said.
In a desperate move, Skarsgård sent Eggers an email to the director, pleading to remain involved with the project. The desperation act worked, and Robert Eggers described the email as “very earnest.” However, as the other parts were being cast, Skarsgård lost hope. That is until he received a message from Eggers, asking him if he wanted to play the iconic vampire. When the project was first announced, Eggers was reportedly looking to cast someone in their 40s for the villainous role. However, thanks in part to the delays, his directorial vision changed, and Skarsgård became the perfect fit for the role.
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Alongside Skarsgård and Nicholas Hoult,Nosferatualso stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Lily-Rose Depp, andWillem Dafoe as a “Van Helsing"style character. The movie is just Robert Eggers' fourth feature film as a director, and he is looking to continue his immensely strong filmography, comprised ofThe Witch,The Lighthouse, andThe Northman.
