Tudors and Bend It Like Beckham star Jonathan Rhys Meyers is to play Dracula in a new UK/US adaptation of Bram Stoker’s famous vampire novel.
Produced by Carnival Films & Television (Downton Abbey) for NBC and Sky Living, Dracula is will be a “provocative” ten-part series and will begin production later this year.
Additional casting and production details will be announced at a later date.
The series introduces Dracula as he arrives in London posing as an American entrepreneur who says he wants to bring modern science to Victorian society.
In reality, he hopes to wreak revenge on the people who ruined his life centuries earlier. There’s only one circumstance that can potentially thwart his plan: Dracula falls hopelessly in love with a woman who seems to be a reincarnation of his dead wife.
Bela Bajaria, Executive Vice President at Universal Television, promised viewers a “smart, sophisticated, and provocative re-imagining of Dracula,” adding: “It is a timeless tale with relevant, surprising twists and turns with the exquisite Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the marquee role.”
Anne Mensah, Sky’s Head of Drama, commented: “I am so pleased to be announcing our first-ever co-production with NBCUniversal and we are delighted to be bringing an actor as exciting as Jonathan Rhys Meyers to Sky.
“Dracula combines the biggest and best talent both in front of and behind the camera and will keep our customers intrigued and enthralled. With its dark, twisted and intelligent script it absolutely sets the scale, tone and ambition for future dramas on Sky Living.”