Somewhere between Joe (2013) and Mandy (2018), the world tuned back in to see whatever Hollywood production Nicolas Cage involved himself with: no longer motivated by the meme, but out of genuine interest. And Universal Pictures’ upcoming horror comedy Renfield directed by Chris McKay (The LEGO Batman Movie, The Tomorrow War) promises to continue the man’s career renaissance of a hot streak.
Based on an original idea conceived by The Walking Dead comic book co-creator Robert Kirkman – which has been adapted into a screenplay by Ryan Ridley of Rick and Morty fame – the film in question subverts expectations by following Count Dracula’s (Nicolas Cage) canonical lackey and titular character, portrayed this time around by Nicholas Hoult.
Fun fact: this represents just one of two vampire-related projects Hoult has recently been involved with; the other being Nosferatu helmed by Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman) – a reboot of the 1929 film which unofficially adapted Bram Stoker’s classic 19th-century novel.
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Back to the story at hand, Nicholas Hoult’s poor old Renfield finds himself in something of a “toxic relationship” with Nic Cage’s iconic vampire and yearns for a life outside of rounding up victims for the Prince of Darkness to suck dry.
When the former meets traffic cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina), however, he finds a new lease on life in modern-day New Orleans. But as you may have probably gathered thanks to the preview embedded above, quitting this gig proves… complex.
“What makes it super fun is that it’s a comedy,” Nicolas Cage told Variety roughly a year ago.
“And when you get that tone right — comedy and horror — like American Werewolf In London, it’s a blast.”
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Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult, and Awkwafina are joined by the following cast members:
- Ben Schwartz as mobster Teddy Lobo
- Adrian Martinez as another traffic cop Chris Marcos
- Brandon Scott Jones as Renfield’s support group leader Mark
- Bess Rous as support group member Caitlyn
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as mob boss Ella
- James Moses Black as Captain J. Browning
- Caroline Williams as Vanessa
- plus Jenna Kanell as Carol
Renfield starring Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult premieres in theatres on April 13th of 2023 – check out the trailer now.
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