With only a little over a month left in the year 2024, there isn’t much in the way of new releases left to be excited about. However, one particular standout this winter season isNosferatu, director Robert Eggers' long-awaited re-imagining of the classic horror film. Set to be released in theaters this coming Christmas, early industry screenings have already hailed the film as a masterpiece, with one particular draw being Lily-Rose Depp as the lead character Ellen Hutter, who, based on the trailers, develops a sort of twisted relationship with Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlok/Nosferatu. As it turns out, working with Eggers has been on the actor’s bucket list, along with a few other well-known “auteur” directors.
In a profile piece forVanity Fair, Depp briefly mentioned how Eggers was on her “bucket list” of filmmakers. When asked to name other creatives who were on the list, the actor dropped plenty of notable names, many of whom received awards attention as recently as last year:
“I would love to work withJonathan Glazer.I’m obsessed with his movies. I would love to work withYorgos Lanthimos.Another amazing world-builder. I would love to work withJustine Trietwho madeAnatomy of a Fall. I also would love to work withHalina Reijn,who madeBabygirl.”
Jonathan Glazer’s most recent film, 2023’sThe Zone of Interest, received the Oscar for Best International Feature at the 96th Academy Awards and was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director. Meanwhile, Yorgos Lanthimos received a Best Director nomination and a Best Picture nod for his 2023 filmPoor Things. Along with the other two mentions of Triet and Reijn, it’s clear that Depp has an eye for talent and ambition to work with auteur directors who have unique visions and stories to tell.
‘Nosferatu’ Star Wants to Work With More Arthouse Talent
Lily-Rose Depp has received much of the praise in early reactions toNosferatu, and this turn from the actor feels like a long time coming. After making her debut in two Kevin Smith movies, 2014’sTuskand 2016’sYoga Hosers, she would go on to play supporting roles in various other films and most recently garnered attention for the controversial HBO television showThe Idol. Now, withNosferatu, Depp is in a lead role (Anya Taylor-Joy initially cast in the part) that clearly plays to the actor’s strengths, withone reactionstating that she gives “every ounce of her body and soul to this eye-popping performance of tormented possession.”
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According to Eggers, the success of Nosferatu can be at least partially attributed to several thousand rats.
An actor’s performance in a film is arguably only as good as the director behind the camera, and it seems Robert Eggers was more than up to the task.Inspired by real-life horror stories,The LighthouseandThe WitchDirector is one that Depp has long wanted to work with, as revealed in a recent interview. There are also several other prominent directors on her bucket list who have recently garnered attention for their awards-buzz films in recent years.
Nosferatu is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name from director F. W. Murnau. Robert Eggers is crafting his own version of the story for the reboot as writer and director, with Bill Skarsgård stepping into the shoes of Count Orlok. Nosferatu tells the tale of a young woman who falls victim to a vampire utterly infatuated with her.
