There’ve been many attempts at telling Dracula’s story, his perspective, even his origin. But what, some might ask, of Renfield – the fly-eating lunatic who worships vampires? What about his side of things? Well, we’re about to find out what that might look like as Variety reports Universal Pictures is reimagining one of Dracula’s victims as the hero of his own story.
Dexter Fletcher is attached to direct Renfield, which will focus on the character who to many is still best remembered for Dwight Frye’s wicked laugh in 1931’s Dracula (or Tom Waits just being wicked, period, in 1992’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula). The Walking Dead comic series creator Robert Kirkman first came up with the pitch, which has since been written as a script by Rick And Morty’s Ryan Ridley.
Fletcher’s signing continues a successful couple of years for the former Press Gang-er turned director – after being drafted in to finish Queen movie Bohemian Rhapsody, which became the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, he had a critical and commercial triumph with Elton John biopic Rocketman. He’s since been brought on board blockbuster threequel Sherlock Holmes 3, replacing his pal Guy Ritchie in the director’s chair.
In the novel, Renfield is introduced as a patient in a Victorian asylum who thirsts to live forever by feeding on the blood of smaller things – first flies and then spiders, and eventually sparrows. He is even begging for a cat by the time “the Master” he prays to arrives from abroad – Count Dracula. A pitiful character, Renfield does have a chivalrous redemption of sorts before the end of the novel.
Of course, his role was famously expanded by Frye in the iconic 1931 Dracula directed by Todd Browning. Introduced as a solicitor and clerk (Jonathan Harker’s role in the novel), it is Renfield who makes the fateful trip to Transylvania to sell Count Dracula London real estate. The experience drives him mad.
Ever since that film, various adaptations have retooled Renfield to play that role, even if the insanity occurs off-screen, such as Waits’ memorable turn in the Francis Ford Coppola version released in 1992. It is unclear whether this Renfield will be a businessman or even a Victorian, but we’re sure to know more soon enough…
