Universal Pictures and director Chris McKay's modern-day vampire movie, Renfield, has found its female lead in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings standout Awkwafina, who joins Nicholas Hoult as the titular character and Nicolas Cage as his master, Count Dracula.
This reimagining of the classic tale is expected to focus on Dracula and Renfield's "toxic and co-dependent relationship, bringing it to a modern-day setting in an adventure story that is comedic in tone." Awkwafina is playing an unnamed character who teams with Renfield to take on the legendary blood-sucker.
Ryan Ridley penned the script, which is based on an original story outline from Robert Kirkman. McKay will also produce alongside Samantha Nisenboim and Skybound Entertainment’s film team of Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan Furst and Sean Furst.
In Bram Stoker's novel, R.M. Renfield was introduced as one of Dr. Seward's inmates who developed a taste for blood and became obsessed with "the master." Driven mad by the evil Count, Renfield became his willing acolyte, believing he would one day be given the gift of eternal life. The character has appeared in most adaptations of the classic tale, and has been played by the likes of Dwight Frye in 1931's Dracula and Tom Waits in Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 version.
Renfield is currently scheduled to begin shooting next year in New Orleans.
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