Recently it was reported that Summit Entertainment was making a new movie based on the original Dracula called Vlad, and we all rejoiced as we might see the studio bring us some real vampires instead of the ones that we’ve seen in The Twilight Saga. Apparently, this was a tad premature, and we’ve now discovered that the movie will not be about Dracula or vampires at all; it will simply be about the man himself, Vlad the Impaler, in all of his historical glory.
Entertainment Weekly was able to have a chit chat with actor Charlie Hunnam, who wrote the script for Vlad. The Sons of Anarchy and Green Street Hooligans star talked about how much work he put into the concept, how he wants to see it turn out, and what it’s actually about.
The thing that really stands out is how fascinated Hunnam is with the history of Vlad the Impaler. While filming Cold Mountain in 2003, the actor traveled Romania and was swept away in the history and the myths that formed from the man. This is when he decided to work on the script, researching every little vital bit of information he could find. In fact, while shopping the script, his one “non-negotiable” in the deal was that vampirism not be included at all; no, this movie was to be about who the man really was and what he was about…even within savage acts he committed.
My hope when writing it was for the end result to be more Braveheart than 300, and I think that as it’s evolved, we’ve got a pretty good mixture of both. I labor a little bit more over the history than 300 did. I was really interested in the reality of how this man turned into the myth, and because of some of his behaviors, it’s actually very easy to weave that mythology in, in a true way. As a writer, you have your idea of what it’s going to be, and now I have to release it. It’s Mandler’s film. But I have a lot of faith in him, and I like him tremendously as a human being, so I feel in safe hands turning my baby over to him.
If you have a moment, you should absolutely head over to EW to read the whole interview, especially for the majorly-detailed description of the history Hunnam covered. I have to say, this sounds like it could be pretty interesting. As I said in the original post, even with Dracula being a part of the story, the thought of this as a period film sounded awesome. Now knowing there’s no Dracula and it’s all just vicious Vlad and Romanian history: I’m sold.
Oh, and when asked about whether he would star as Vlad himself or not, the actor explained that while he would really love to play one of the parts (possibly Vlad’s younger brother), he knows that the budget would be far too large for someone of his current status to carry. A bright young talent, indeed. So who does he see as Vlad?
As I was writing it, I vacillated between thinking about myself playing the role as a fantasy [laughs], and Colin Farrell and Christian Bale. Particularly Farrell. There’s something very roguish and bad boy about Vlad, and I know Colin a little bit, and I think he has some of the characteristics that would be essential for playing this guy. I love Ryan Gosling, I think he’s just incredible, but I never really thought he would be 100 percent right. The thing about Vlad is, he wasn’t a conventional ruler. When he took his throne back after his father had been murdered, he did that using a contingent of gypsies, murderers, and thieves that he found in the forest; he didn’t hire mercenaries. He had a real affinity for the darker side of society. I think he felt like he was an outcast, too, in a lot of ways. I think Farrell would be fantastic.
What do you guys think: better as a historically accurate film in the same vein as Braveheart, or should they really embrace the 300 side of things and add vampires to the party?
No vampires = great news. I just hope farrell doesnt have any part of this film though!!!