×

Robert Eggers’ long-awaited “Nosferatu” is starting to take shape, with Bill Skarsgard in talks to play the title character with Lily-Rose Depp as his co-star.

Eggers is set to write, direct and produce the new imagining of the cinematic classic, which follows the gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman (Depp) in 19th century Germany and the ancient Transylvanian vampire (Skarsgard) who stalks her, bringing untold horror with him.

The Focus Features movie is produced by Jeff Robinov, John Graham, Eggers, Chris Columbus and Eleanor Columbus.

In 2017, Variety exclusively reported that Eggers was planning his own “Nosferatu” movie — following the 1922 silent film and the Werner Herzog-directed 1979 remake — starring Anya Taylor-Joy, who collaborated with the filmmaker on their breakthrough indie “The Witch” and, earlier this year, starred in his Viking epic “The Northman.” After COVID-19 delayed production on “The Northman,” plans for “Nosferatu” also shifted, which has led a myriad of scheduling conflicts, including Harry Styles’ exit from the project in March after he was briefly attached to star opposite Taylor-Joy.

Now, with Skarsgard and Deep in negotiations to star, things are starting to come together for the long-awaited vampire movie. “Nosferatu” will mark Eggers’ first time working with the pair of actors, though Skarsgard’s older brother Alexander Skarsgard starred in Eggers’ “The Northman.”

Bill Skarsgard is best known for his terrifying performance as Pennywise in “It” and “It Chapter II,” with other recent credits including Marvel’s “Eternals,” “Nine Days” and “Barbarian,” the horror movie which hit theaters last month and Skarsgard also executive produced. He’ll next appear in “John Wick: Chapter 4,” “Boy Kills World” and stars in “The Crow” remake.

After building a promising resume with films like “Silent Night” and “The King,” Depp’s next major role is the lead in HBO’s “The Idol,” the buzzy drama series co-created by The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), Reza Fahim and “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson.

Deadline was first to report the actors’ involvement in the film. Focus Features had no comment. Skarsgard is repped by WME and Magnolia Entertainment and Depp is repped by CAA and Agence Adequat.