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Universal Pictures will release “Renfield,” a monster movie centered around Dracula’s sidekick on April 14, 2023, the studio announced on Friday.The film stars Nicholas Hoult (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “X-Men” franchise) as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula, who will be played by Oscar winner Nicolas Cage.The official synopsis is as follows: Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness.  If only he can figure out how to end his codependency. Chris McKay (“The Tomorrow War,” “The Lego Batman Movie”) is directing and producing.Ryan Ridley (Fox’s “Ghosted,” Cartoon Network’s “Rick & Morty”) wrote the script, based on an original story outline from “The Walking Dead” and “Invincible” creator Robert Kirkman.“Renfield” also stars Awkwafina (“The Farewell,” Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings”), Ben Schwartz (“Sonic,” “The Afterparty”) and Adrian Martinez (“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “Focus”).In Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel “Dracula,” Renfield was a patient in an insane asylum who ate vermin to absorb their life force — and whom Count Dracula used to enter the asylum and attack Jonathan Harker’s school mistress fiancée Mina.The film will be produced by Skybound Entertainment’s film team, including Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan Furst and Sean Furst.

Universal Pictures has set the streaming premiere date for its Chris McKay-directed horror comedy Renfield, starring Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage, announcing that the film will bow exclusively on Peacock on June 9th.

Dracula, where he’s been memorably portrayed by greats like Alexander Granach (in 1922’s silent Nosferatu), Dwight Frye (as a wide-eyed madman in 1931’s Dracula), and Tom Waits (chewing the scenery, and bugs, in 1992’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula), Renfield is perpetually overshadowed by the blood-sucking count.Universal’s new Renfield (★★☆☆☆), a big-budget spinoff of the Dracula story, set in present-day New Orleans, promises to give the character his overdue shine. Unfortunately, the film is an overcooked clash of genre and tepid grasps at modernization, whose greatest asset is — you guessed it — Dracula himself, played by a glammed-up, fang-gnashing Nicolas Cage.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page. Sometimes, you find startling accuracy in the most unlikely places. Codependency and toxic relationships have long been fodder for film and television, but lately there’s been a batch of quality entertainment that does an excellent job of depicting the reality of an unhealthy relationship — and the struggle to break free from one. Surprisingly, it’s comedic entertainment that seems to be doing it best as of late. Take the first season of the Apple TV+ comedy “Shrinking,” which depicts a therapist (Jason Segel) trying to help a client (Heidi Gardner) break up with her verbally and emotionally abusive husband. It’s a character arc that rings only too true, expertly captured by “Saturday Night Live” breakout Gardner. Over on HBO Max, the animated series “Harley Quinn” has spent three seasons showing how its titular character starts a new life out from under the shadow of the ultimate toxic boyfriend, the Joker. While it’s a fantastical story that uses heroes and villains with superpowers, the metaphor is apt — Harley Quinn has no identity outside of her famous paramour and has to rebuild her life, and self-worth, on her own.

There have been so many variations and film versions of Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula, from 1926’s Nosferatu to Tod Browning’s 1931 Dracula to Francis Coppola’s well-regarded take with Gary Oldman to even comedic satires like Love at First Bite with George Hamilton taking on the role. Now in Universal’s latest effort to rescue its horror classics and make them new again, we have the perfectly cast Nicolas Cage as the Prince of Darkness. Even he has done an offshoot before, in 1988’s Vampire’s Kiss. However this time around the film is not centered on Dracula himself, but rather his beleaguered servant, henchman, whatever you choose to call him, Renfield, and it is another Nicholas, as in Hoult, who has the title role this time in Renfield. Cage’s part, though meaty, is actually supporting as the emphasis turns to the long-suffering assistant who was tasked with bringing his boss’ prey directly to him, consuming bugs of all sorts in order to get superhuman powers to conquer them, and basically taking the fall for anything this narcissistic vampire does not find to his liking.

Julia MacCary editor Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult’s vampire horror-comedy “Renfield” will get its world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival on March 30. Hoult (“The Menu,” “About a Boy”) stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to Dracula, who is being played by Cage (“Face/Off,” “The Rock”). Chris McKay (“The Tomorrow War,” “The Lego Movie”) directed the film, and Ryan Ridley (“Rick and Morty,” “The Wastelander”) penned it. Additional cast members include Awkwafina, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Brandon Scott Jones and Ben Schwartz. Lee Cronin’s “Evil Dead Rise” will close out the festival on April 2. Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland star in the film about estranged sisters reuniting, only to have flesh-possessing demons force them into a battle to survive. Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and Bruce Campell produced the film.

Nicolas Cage has played a lot of kooky characters in his career thus far, but this April he ticks off another icon to his list: Dracula. The Oscar-winning actor plays the classic vampire in the new action horror-comedy “Renfield,” and the first trailer promises a rollicking good time.Nicholas Hoult stars as the titular character in this film, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterCritics Choice Award nominee and breakout comedic talent Brandon Scott Jones has been cast in Universal’s upcoming Dracula comedy “Renfield.”While production wrapped nearly a month ago, Jones’ casting had previously gone unreported. He joins Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage in the tale of the iconic vampire’s loyal footman who begins to wonder what life is like out of his master’s long shadow.

More spring dating for next year: Universal has set April 14, 2023, for the release of Renfield, its monster movie starring Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult and Awkwafina.

EXCLUSIVE: James Moses Black (Queenpins, Lansky) is the latest addition to the cast of Renfield, the Universal monster movie from director Chris McKay.

EXCLUSIVE: Bess Rous (Ghostbusters, Murder in the First) will round out the cast of Chris McKay’s Universal monster movie, Renfield.

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog, The Expanse) is the latest addition to the cast of Renfield, the monster movie that Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War, The LEGO Batman Movie) is directing for Universal Pictures.

EXCLUSIVE: Adrian Martinez (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Focus) has signed on to star alongside Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina and Ben Schwartz in Renfield, the monster movie that Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War, The LEGO Batman Movie) is directing for Universal Pictures.

EXCLUSIVE: Awkwafina is set to join Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage Universal Pictures’ Renfield, a monster movie centered on Dracula’s familiar henchman with Hoult playing the title role. It was recently announced that Nicolas Cage would be playing the Dracula role. The Tomorrow War director Chris McKay is on board to helm the pic, which is based on an original story outline from Robert Kirkman. Ryan Ridley wrote the script.

Universal’s Monsters Dark Universe franchise (“The Mummy” starring Tom Cruise) died on the vine before it had a chance to properly begin. That led to Leigh Whannell’s domestic abuse horror thriller “Invisible Man,” and a host of new announcements.

Nicolas Cage has been tapped to play Dracula in Universal Pictures’ Renfield, a monster movie centered on Dracula’s familiar henchman starring Nicholas Hoult in the titular role. The Tomorrow War director Chris McKay is on board to helm the pic, which is based on an original story outline from Robert Kirkman. Ryan Ridley wrote the script.

Nicholas Hoult has landed the lead role in Universal’s “Renfield,” a monster movie centered around Dracula’s sidekick and based on an original story outline from Robert Kirkman, the studio announced on Tuesday.Chris McKay (“The Tomorrow War,” “The Lego Batman Movie”) is directing and producing.Ryan Ridley (Fox’s “Ghosted,” Cartoon Network’s “Rick & Morty”) wrote the script.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterNicholas Hoult is set to star in Universal’s “Renfield,” a monster movie centering on Dracula’s notorious lackey.Chris McKay, the filmmaker behind “The Tomorrow War” and “The Lego Batman Movie,” is directing and producing “Renfield,” which serves as an origin story for Dracula’s unhinged henchman.

EXCLUSIVE: Chris McKay is in negotiations to direct and produce Universal Pictures’ Renfield, a monster movie centered around Dracula’s familiar and based on an original story outline from Robert Kirkman. McKay’s producing partner Samantha Nisenboim will be joining the project as executive producer.