18 July 2025 – Willem Dafoe is eyeing another haunting collaboration with visionary filmmaker Robert Eggers, as the acclaimed actor enters negotiations to star in Eggers’ next horror project, Werwulf.
The 69-year-old actor—known for his chameleonic performances and distinct screen presence—has become a regular fixture in Eggers’ dark cinematic universe, previously starring in The Lighthouse, The Northman, and 2024’s gothic reimagining of Nosferatu. If confirmed, Werwulf would mark their fourth collaboration.
According to Deadline, Dafoe may join a cast that already includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Lily-Rose Depp, both reportedly in talks to lead the film. Werwulf is expected to be a chilling 13th-century werewolf horror set in England, and will reunite Eggers with his Northman co-writer Sjón, who is penning the script.
The film is slated for a Christmas Day 2026 release in the United States, with Focus Features producing alongside Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Chris and Eleanor Columbus will serve as executive producers under Maiden Voyage.
A Medieval Nightmare in Old English
Plot details remain closely guarded, but Werwulf is expected to plunge audiences deep into a raw, unsettling medieval world. The Hollywood Reporter notes that the film will feature period-accurate Old English dialogue, with translations and annotations to help modern audiences follow the story.
Though Eggers had initially considered filming Werwulf in black and white—reminiscent of The Lighthouse—he’s reportedly moved away from that concept for now.
Eggers and Dafoe: A Haunted Partnership
Dafoe’s potential casting comes as Eggers continues to draw from a pool of familiar collaborators and esoteric influences. His most recent film, Nosferatu, starred Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Emma Corrin, and Dafoe himself as part of a deeply atmospheric retelling of the vampire myth.
Eggers recently spoke about his stylistic inspirations for Nosferatu, citing gothic and classic cinema such as Jack Clayton’s The Innocents (1961), Thorold Dickinson’s The Queen of Spades (1949), and Ingmar Bergman’s Cries and Whispers (1972).
“Cries and Whispers… is one of the best horror films ever made even though it doesn’t try to be one,” Eggers said. “Its ghostly atmosphere was a huge influence.”
He also praised the practical effects in The Queen of Spades, particularly its snowfall scenes:
“We used the same kind of practical snow—potato flakes—for Nosferatu. The atmosphere was so beautiful and tactile.”
More to Come
In addition to Werwulf, Eggers is also reportedly in early talks to team up with Dafoe again for a reimagining of A Christmas Carol at Warner Bros.—suggesting their creative partnership is far from over.
For fans of slow-burn horror, moody period pieces, and Dafoe’s magnetic screen energy, Werwulf is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most anticipated films.
