Dracula: Release Date, Cast, Plot and More
Dracula is an upcoming web series developed by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, based on the novel of the same name by Bram Stoker. The three-part and 90-minute series will debut with the following episode titles: The Rules of the Beast, Blood Vessel, and Dark Compass. The official plot description for the series teases, “Re-introduce the world to Dracula, the vampire who made evil sexy.” It further states, “In Transylvania in 1897, the blood-drinking Count is drawing his plans against Victorian London. And be warned: the dead travel fast.”
Charlotte Moore, BBC director of content said: “Genius duo Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss turn their attentions to Dracula for unmissable event television on BBC One.” Along with this Larry Tanz, VP, content acquisition, Netflix said: “We can’t wait to bring Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ brilliant storytelling to our members around the world and we are eager to collaborate on yet another series with the BBC.” Dracula will premiere all three episodes in the U.S. on Netflix on Saturday, January 4, 2020, but before its release at Netflix, the series will first air in the U.K. on BBC One across three consecutive nights, starting on January 1.
The Girl in the Spider’s Web’s Claes Bang bears fangs as Dracula himself in the miniseries. As Bang expressed in a press release that announced his casting, “I am thrilled to be taking on the role of Dracula, especially when the script is in the hands of the incredible talents of Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and the team responsible for Sherlock. I’m so excited that I get to dig into 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 realize 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.”
The other main cast of the miniseries is Dolly Wells as wisecracking nun Sister Agatha and Joanna Scanlan as the Mother Superior, John Heffernan as Jonathan Harker, the unlucky solicitor who travels to Castle Dracula to help the Count plan his move to England. Morfydd Clark as Mina Harker, Lujza Richter as Elena, Mark Gatiss as Frank, Lyndsey Marshal as Bloxham, Chanel Cresswell as Katherine, Matthew Beard as Jack, Lydia West as Bloofer Lady, Sarah Niles as Meg and Natasha Radski as Mother.
Rounding out the cast are, Jonathan Aris as Captain Sokolov (Sherlock, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch), British actor of Indian descent Sacha Dhawan as Dr. Sharma (Iron Fist, The Boy with the Top Knot), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Adisa (Utopia, Misfits), Catherine Schell as Grand Duchess Valeria (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Space: 1999), Youssef Kerkour as Olgaren (Jack Ryan, Nighflyers), Clive Russell as Valentin (Game of Thrones, Ripper Street)
Netflix has published a trailer on December 13 along with a short description, “From the makers of Sherlock, the Count Dracula legend transforms with new tales. Claes Bang stars as Dracula in this brand-new series inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic novel. The Count Dracula legend transforms with new tales that flesh out the vampire’s gory crimes — and bring his vulnerability into the light.” Check out the dark teaser trailer above.