It looks like we may have competing Dracula origin films at the cinema soon, one looking at the real, historic Vlad The Impaler and the other concentrating on how the Transyvanian prince might have become the vampire in Bram Stoker’s tale. We reported on the historic one a few months ago, which Brad Pitt’s production company is working on, based on a script by Queer As Folk and Nicholas Nickleby actor, Charlie Hunnan.
The other Dracula prequel is being reported by Latino Review, which says I, Robot and Dark City director Alex Proyas is working on Dracula: Year Zero for Universal. It will dial back the story to discover how Vlad Dracul, the ferocious prince known for implaing his enemies on spikes, became a vampire in the first place. So no Jonathan Harker, but at least we’d discover why Dracula is such a miserable sod in Stoker’s story. Latino Review also says that the main man in the running to play the legendary evil-doer is Avatar star Sam Worthington. Then again, he’s everyone’s main man at the moment, so just because they want him, doesn’t mean he’ll actually end up in the movie.
However before you get too excited (or angry, depend on your view of the film), Dracula: Year Zero is just one of 14 big films Universal is considering giving the greenlight to for their 2011 slate, but only eight of these flicks will actually go before the camera. Universal are apparently deciding which of the films they’re going to go ahead with in the next few days, but as the studio is keen to reinvigorate their classic monster franchises (such as with the upcoming The Wolfman), don’t be surprised if this one does get the greenlight.