I wasn’t sure this one would ever land U.S. theatrical distribution … Then again, we’re in the era of Briarcliff, Ketchup, and Vertical—indie outfits stepping in to scoop up so-called “problem films” like “The Apprentice,” “Coyote vs. Acme,” and “Magazine Dreams.”
Following its July run in France, Vertical has picked up North American rights to Luc Besson’s “Dracula: A Love Tale.” Starring Caleb Landry Jones and Christoph Waltz, the film is now slated for a wide theatrical release in early 2026.
“Dracula” reunites Besson with his “Dogman” star Caleb Landry Jones. Retelling the Dracula story is always a tall order—especially so soon after Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu” remake.
Monster movies are hot right now, and Vertical clearly thinks this one has commercial potential. I’m not so sure—but then again, I don’t run a production company, so what would I know?
Having seen the trailer, am I alone in thinking this latest version feels like a flashy retread of Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”? It doesn’t help that the film earned mixed reviews in France back in July.
The main draw here is Caleb Landry Jones, an actor who excels in oddball, chameleon-like roles. But judging by the trailer, this looks less like something vital and more like an over-stylized, self-important remix of Coppola’s “Dracula.”
Besson, of course, built his name on a run of ’80s and ’90s hits—“The Big Blue,” “La Femme Nikita,” “Léon: The Professional,” “The Fifth Element”—and later penned 2008’s “Taken,” the film that spawned more than a decade of one-man-army knockoffs.