“The Witch,” “The Lighthouse,” and now “Nosferatu – The Undead”: Robert Eggers’ reputation is stellar among fans of horror films and high-concept cinema alike. Above all, the filmmaker has a knack for using visual symbolism that turns even the most mundane moments into stunning cinematic experiences, while vividly bringing the inner lives of his characters to the screen. Eggers’ works are pure cinematic events. He has even managed to revive the struggling vampire genre for mainstream audiences. His reinterpretation of the Murnau classic Nosferatu has grossed $156 million worldwide so far, making it a box office hit.
Now, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that the 41-year-old has found his next project. Once again, he plans to resurrect a classic monster: a werewolf. The horror film will be produced by Focus Features, Universal’s production company, which also collaborated with Eggers on Nosferatu. The screenplay for Werwulf was co-written by Eggers and Icelandic author Sjón, who won the Nordic Council Literature Prize for his novel Shadow Fox. Sjón, whose full name is Sigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson, also penned the screenplay for Eggers’ revenge epic The Northman. The U.S. release date for Werwulf has been set for December 25, 2026, so fans will have to wait a little longer for its arrival.
“Werwulf”: Robert Eggers Initially Wanted to Film in Black and White
Details about the plot are scarce, except that it will revolve around a werewolf terrorizing the population of 13th-century England. The dialogues will reportedly be inspired by Old English. Initially, Eggers considered shooting Werwulf in black and white, much like The Lighthouse. However, this idea has since been abandoned.
The timing for a werewolf film couldn’t be better. While recent vampire films like Renfield, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, and Abigail have tried to reignite interest in bloodsucking creatures of the night, it seems the spotlight has now shifted back to werewolves. Films like The Beast Within, starring Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), and the B-movie Werewolves with Frank Grillo, are already available for purchase or rental on Amazon. For a more humorous take, there’s Werewolves Within. Additionally, Fast & Furious star Sung Kang has embraced lycanthropy by directing the horror-comedy Shaky Shivers. Currently, the genre has another representative on the big screen with Wolf Man.
In recent times, the pack has grown a bit more crowded. However, none of these films can match the brilliance of Robert Eggers. This alone gives audiences reason to look forward to a werewolf film that will likely push the boundaries of the genre once again, delivering a horror experience unlike anything seen before.
Iconic horror figures always come with equally iconic and distinctive costumes, making it easy for horror fans to recognize films by the characters’ attire.
