By Gavin Boyle
Warner Bros. has chosen NOSFERATU director Robert Eggers to direct a horror version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, with Willem Dafoe rumored to play the lead role.
“[Working with Dafoe] was pretty overwhelming, because he was such a major acting hero to me while I was growing up. He still is. I was intimidated” Eggers told Vulture when discussing the first time he worked with him. “ But then – and I worry that this could sound proud or something – as soon as we started talking, I was like, ‘Okay, I can get along with this person.’ We just see a lot of things the same way. When it’s a good fit, it feels like doing theater in high school with my friends.”
Eggers and Dafoe first worked together on THE LIGHTHOUSE and have since collaborated THE NORTHMAN and NOSFERATU. Now, they are rumored to be working together again on Eggers newest project, a horror take on Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol.”
Warner Bros. has tapped Eggers to write, produce and direct the story, which he is expected to place a horror spin on. In doing so, he will likely lean into the ghostly aspects of the story and the horror of being haunted by three spirits. Though production is not yet searching for talent, insiders have said Eggers wants Dafoe for the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.
While “A Christmas Carol” has always had horror elements baked into it, previous depictions have toned them down for the sake of the audience. 2009’s DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL, for example, was made accessible for older children. A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:
DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL is achingly poignant, extremely frightening, and absolutely spellbinding. It is a stupendous artistic achievement in animated entertainment, with a remarkable performance by Jim Carrey, who also plays the three spirits. Director Robert Zemeckis, of FORREST GUMP and THE POLAR EXPRESS, adapted the novel by Charles Dickens. His sensitive adaptation superbly captures the fear, conviction, depth, and artistry of this classic tale. Most importantly, it brilliantly portrays the story’s Christian message, with redemptive references to Jesus Christ and the Bible. A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a terrific work, but it is too frightening for young children and other susceptible viewers.
Meanwhile, Egger’s has leaned heavily into deep horror in his past projects, causing the movies to be excessive and unsuitable even for mature audiences. A portion of Movieguide®’s review of NOSFERATU reads:
NOSFERATU has more than lots of chilling atmosphere to spare. However, the director ruins everything by inserting too much blood, sexual violence and nudity. For example, when the vampire feeds on people’s blood, you can hear the slurping and gulping sounds. Also, although the director solves the plot problem through sacrifice, the sacrifice is tainted by moral corruption. As a result, the movie’s ending is too disturbing. NOSFERATU would have been much better, and more enjoyable, without this excessive graphic content and moral corruption.
Rather than creating a movie that no audience can enjoy, hopefully Eggers will find a way to imbue the upcoming movie with his distinct horror style while remaining true to the original story, which is approachable for older children.
Read Next: Child Friendly Horror Movies – Is There Such a Thing?
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