Nicolas Cage reveals why he agreed to be Dracula but with feelings in ‘Renfield’

Nicolas Cage plays Dracula in Chris McKay’s new film, ‘Renfield’, in which he plays a monstrous yet emotional vampire in a comedy dealing with toxic and abusive relationships. The actor shares a poster with Nicholas Hoult, who plays the minion that gives the film its name. The screenplay, created by Ryan Ridley and part of an idea by Robert Kirkman, it’s about the codependent ties the iconic vampire maintains with Renfield.

The film follows the story of the faithful servant Renfield, who, after centuries of service to his master, decides to find out if there is life outside the vampire’s shadow. Thus, he goes to group therapy for people in abusive relationships and later decides to help a New Orleans police officer, played by Awkwafina, who is also a victim of a toxic environment.

Cage says the issue is relevant and on the minds of people in relationships, and that the upcoming film reflects how relationships can turn into feelings of possession and jealousy.

The actor, with a long career in the film industry since the 80s, admits that his role in “Renfield” is close to the spirit of one of his favorite films of adolescence, ‘An American Werewolf in London’ (1981) by John Landis. He felt comfortable with the part and avoided the classic Transylvanian accent that was done on other occasions, referencing personifications of Bela Lugosi, Gary Oldman and Christopher Lee, according to EFE.

This Dracula, as monstrous as he is, has his feelings,” says Cage.

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The influences of Nicolas Cage’s Dracula

Nicolas Cage confessed that his character was also affected by the predatory Mrs. Robinson of ‘The Graduate’ (1967), played by Anne Bancroft, and by her father, August Coppola, who spoke with a Mid-Atlantic accent. August screened avant-garde and art films at his home, and this influenced the direction Nicolas would take in his acting career.

There is something here that is done with great compassion and care in dealing with a toxic relationship,” explains Nicolas Cage of Dracula and Renfield’s toxic relationship.

(The theme) is relevant because it’s happening now, it’s in people’s heads, in offices, in homes, in couple relationships”, underlines the actor.

Winner of the Oscar for best actor for ‘Goodbye to Las Vegas’ (1995), Cage has starred in numerous low-budget and modestly produced films in recent years, without which this has prevented him from remaining a cult figure and much avenged especially on social networks. Just last year he starred in ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’, a curious film with absurd humor in which Nicolas Cage plays himself and comes face to face with the Chilean Pedro Pascal.

Nicolas Cage plays Dracula in new film ‘Renfield’ by Chris McKay, in which toxic and abusive relationships are addressed in a comedic tone. The actor is comfortable with the role of him and avoids the classic Transylvanian accent. Additionally, Ryan Ridley’s screenplay, based on an idea by Robert Kirkman, deals with Dracula’s codependent ties to Renfield.