(Image Source: Pinterest, Universal Pictures)
Acclaimed director Robert Eggers, known for "The VVitch," saw his remake of "Nosferatu" achieve significant box office success last Christmas. With a modest budget of just over $50 million, the film grossed more than $150 million worldwide, earning strong critical reception and generating considerable online buzz. Not content with just vampires, Eggers is now eager to explore new takes on other classic monsters.
The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed today that Eggers is moving directly into pre-production on his next project, a new werewolf film titled "Werwulf." Focus Features, a subsidiary of Universal Pictures which distributed Eggers' "Nosferatu," will once again handle the distribution.
(Image Source: Universal Pictures)
Interestingly, this isn't Universal's only recent foray into werewolf lore. Just last week, Leigh Whannell, director of the 2020 hit "The Invisible Man," released his new take on "Wolf Man" in North America. While Whannell's version is set in the modern era, Eggers, who typically favors period pieces, will transport "Werwulf" to 13th-century England. True to his style, the film's dialogue is expected to faithfully reflect the archaic language of the period.
Eggers will direct "Werwulf" and co-write the screenplay with Sjón, who previously collaborated with him on "The Northman." Chris Columbus, director of the first two "Harry Potter" films and a producer on Eggers' "The VVitch," "The Lighthouse," and the recent "Nosferatu," will return as a producer alongside his daughter, Eleanor Columbus.
"Werwulf" is already slated for a Christmas 2026 release, indicating a rapid development timeline. Casting is expected to be finalized soon, with production commencing shortly to meet the late next year's premiere. The Hollywood Reporter also noted that Eggers initially considered shooting "Werwulf" in black and white but ultimately abandoned the idea.