What began as news of a single new Dracula film from Trinity Studios has now become something far bigger, darker, and more ambitious: a planned three-film Dracula saga, with writer Chris McAuley steering the Count back toward the sinister roots of Bram Stoker’s original creation.
The first film will be a fresh retelling of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, but with a twist that should intrigue long-time Dracula readers and Gothic horror fans alike. McAuley’s script draws not only from the published novel, but also from Stoker’s surviving notes and related material, including the mysterious Icelandic version of the story, Powers of Darkness, a text long discussed by scholars for the ways it differs from the familiar English-language Dracula.
It will also restore elements and characters linked to Stoker’s earlier vision, including material associated with editorial changes made before publication by Otto Kyllmann, the editor connected with the original Dracula manuscript.
For McAuley, this is not simply another vampire film. It is personal, literary, and deeply connected to years of work building the StokerVerse across comics, games, prose, and other media.
“Dracula was never about romance,” says Chris McAuley. “In this first film of our trilogy, we emphasise the monster and also his intelligence, which makes him more than just a beast. Dracula is dangerous and cruel.”
That tone is important. Over the decades, Dracula has been many things: suave aristocrat, tragic lover, caped stage icon, comedy figure, Halloween shorthand, and pop culture brand. McAuley’s approach seems determined to peel those layers away and return to something colder, nastier, and more unsettling.
“I am tired of the parody, comedy and aesthetically romantic versions of the character,” he says. “Dracula was always a dark, grotesque and compelling narrative.”
The timing is fascinating, too. The first film is currently slated for a late 2027 release, positioning it close to the 130th anniversary of Stoker’s novel, which was first published in May 1897.
McAuley is also keen for the trilogy to shine a broader light on Bram Stoker himself, beyond the shadow of the Count.
“I am hoping that this series brings a greater emphasis on Bram Stoker’s other works as well,” McAuley adds. “He was a prolific writer and illustrator. He wrote poetry, dramatic and adventure novels and was the manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London. He deserves to be celebrated.”
That last point is well worth underlining. Stoker’s work at London’s Lyceum Theatre was not a footnote, but a central part of his adult life, where he worked closely with Henry Irving and helped manage one of the great theatrical institutions of the age.
The announcement that Trinity Studios is backing not one but three Dracula films was made by Brooke Woods Bechtol at a special event celebrating Chris McAuley’s career.
Among those present were SSgt Daniel Gilyeat of the Helping a Hero charity, and artist James Roach, who has collaborated with McAuley on his Ghost Protocol series.
And, in true modern franchise fashion, the films will not be arriving alone.
Alongside the trilogy comes news of in-print tie-ins, including two new novels and a series of comic books from Scratch Comics and the legendary Heavy Metal magazine. There are also rumours of a tabletop game and a video game arriving over the next year or so, making this less a standalone film project and more the next major expansion of McAuley’s StokerVerse.
For Dracula fans, the most interesting part may be the creative intent. This does not sound like a version chasing the familiar tragic-romantic vampire. Instead, Trinity Studios and McAuley appear to be reaching back toward the primal horror of Stoker’s creation: a cruel, intelligent predator who invades homes, minds, bodies, and countries.
In other words, the Count may be coming back less as a dark handsome prince and more as the monster Stoker first unleashed.
And frankly, after decades of capes, candles, and lonely eternal longing, that sounds rather exciting.
Head downthetubes for…
• downthetubes: Chris McAuley, Trinity Studios Announce New Dracula Film
• Dracula – The Return: Book One – The Cult of the White Worm (AmazonUK Affiliate Link), written by Dacre Stoker and Chris McCauley, with art by Chris Geary, Matt Soffe, David Hitchcok and Si Chinook
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, downthetubes News, Film, Games, Other Worlds
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