The Latest on Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘Harker’

There is a huge, blockbuster vampire film, starring A-list celebs in the works! Harker, a retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, has been picked up by Warner Bros and already has both Leonardo DiCaprio AND Russell Crowe attached to the project. The film is only in the early stages and it’s already looking fan-freaking-tastic!

Leonardo DiCaprio Russell CroweWritten by Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy (both of Hemlock Grove), the film will focus on Jonathan Harker as the Scotland Yard detective who is tracking Dracula, and the script sets up the sleuth as a potential new franchise character.

As the project kicks off more and more info is coming in, like that Russell Crowe is set to star. That’s right, Crowe is now attached to Harker. The role he has been cast may be a surprise, for Crowe isn’t set to play Jonathan Harker, instead he has been cast to play Dracula. As for Harker, that role has yet to be cast.

In other Harker news, horror master Eli Roth is in talks to direct the big film. Apparently previously attached director Jaume Collet-Serra has moved on to other projects.

When Warner Bros acquired Harker way back in February 2011, the director attached was Unknown’s Jaume Collet-Serra. But the studio had him work Akira instead… until the film based on the anime classic was axed for cost reasons. Now Collet-Serra is helming another Joel Silver film with Liam Neeson, Nonstop. The studio doesn’t want to wait on Collet-Serra , they want to fast-track Harker and have gone to Roth for that.

If Roth does sign on to direct then this is going to be a horror film, not another pretty vampire movie. Roth is known for his gruesome and very bloody style. He is the man behind Grindhouse, Hostel, Cabin Fever and more. So expect a graphic vampire film.

As for Leo’s role – Harker will be produced by Appian Way partners Leonardo DiCaprio (who is not planning to act in the film) and Jennifer Davisson Killoran in a co-production with Mad Hatter Entertainment. He won’t be IN the film, but he does have a big part in the making of it.

That’s the latest on Warner Bros’ Harker. What are your thoughts so far?

– Moonlight

By Moonlight

Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to vampires. You will most likely find her huddled over a book of vampire folklore with coffee in hand. Touch her coffee and she may bite you (and not in the fun way).

8 comments

  1. A real horror film with big names like Leo and Russell? Doesn’t get any (potentially) better than that. Also a nice stake in the heart to all those who said vampire films would be ‘dead’ after “Twilight”…

  2. Nice! I’m actually excited to see how this goes! Though I think that Crowe might be better suited to playing Harker as a Scotland Yard detective, but I’m willing to give him his chance.

  3. My favorite actor is Leonardo DiCaprio, my favorite everything is anything about vampires, and my favorite book is Dracula… I have a feeling I’m going to like this movie!

  4. Before I saw Netflix’s Hemlock Grove I would have been skeptical of Roth as director since he’s known for torture porn (which I hate, except for the first Saw). But Hemlock Grove is an excellent series that I encourage all horror fans to try.

  5. Could be great, but I was expecting this to be new. I knew all of this stuff months ago. The LATEST news is that Eli Roth is basically all but attached now, and he and Crowe were tweeting to each other about the project hinting at a spring shoot. That’s probably not true now, but I’d wager it’s further along than this article suggests. Between this and Universal’s own new Dracula film, it’s an exciting (and nervous) time to be a Dracula fan.

    1. Your version of the “latest” news is exactly what is said above. Roth still isn’t officially attached – that’s the latest. Way to reword exactly what is said above and call it the “latest.”

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