The upcoming Netflix miniseries based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula cast Claes Bang in the title role. Bang recently starred as the villainous Jan Holtser in Fede Alvarez’s adaptation of The Girl in the Spider’s Web opposite Claire Foy.
Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, the co-creators of the British television series Sherlock, are adapting yet another piece of classic literature with Dracula. Having also collaborated on the BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who, the duo are writing and producing a three-part miniseries based on the infamous vampire which will visit the Count as he feasts in Victorian London. With filming set to begin sometime in 2019, the upcoming series has finally cast its titular blood-sucking villain.
According to Deadline, Claes Bang has been cast as Count Dracula in the upcoming BBC One/Netflix miniseries Dracula. The project is still in the early stages of development, and no other casting announcements have been revealed yet, but Bang opened up about his excitement in regard to playing Dracula, specifically drawing attention to the “incredible talents of Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and the team responsible for Sherlock.” He also acknowledged the weight of taking on such an iconic role, saying:
Gatiss and Moffat’s involvement with this new Draculas miniseries may be exciting for fans, but it has also drawn concerns over the future of their Sherlock series. Whether or not stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman agree to appear in future seasons, Gatiss has personally opened up about parting ways with the series altogether and calling it quits. On the podcast A Stab in the Dark, he stated that complications revolving around scheduling, most of all, have prompted him to consider giving someone else a chance to “go and do their version.”
“I’m so excited that I get to dig in to this iconic and super-interesting character. Yes he’s evil, but there’s also so much more to him. He’s charismatic, intelligent, witty, and sexy. I realise that there’s a lot to live up to with all the amazing people that have played him over the years, but I feel so privileged to be taking on this incredible character.”
As for Dracula, the miniseries is no doubt in good hands; not only because of Sherlock’s success, but on account of Gatiss and Moffat’s love of classic horror movies. Gatiss, especially, is a diehard fan of the genre, having hosted his very own three-party documentary series titled A History of Horror, exploring everything from Hammer Films in the UK (who, incidentally, introduced Christopher Lee as Dracula) to classic American horror films between the 1960s and ’70s, like Psycho and The Exorcist. Combining their earnest love for the genre, as well as the fact that they’ve proven themselves to be skilled at bringing classic literary characters to life on the small screen, it’s likely that Gatiss and Moffat will give audiences a worthy adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. And, seeing as they’re just as skilled at casting said literary characters, it’s likely Bang will do the role justice.
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Source: Deadline
