Dracula is arguably the best-known character ever created. The legendary vampire made his first appearance in Bram Stoker’s seminal 1897 novel and has since been adapted more than one thousand times in various forms of media. A vast number of the adaptations of the tale stay true to the source material, which has been done to death now. There is talk of a modern version in the works from Universal, though, which could paint Dracula in a totally different light.
Dracula is One of Most Ubiquitous Characters Ever
Dracula has made countless appearances in popular culture over the last century, and there have been plenty of things dedicated solely to the character as well. These usually come in the form of films, television series, and games. The fact that Dracula is so ubiquitous means that everyone knows about him, and there is a readymade audience there whenever a new Dracula-based work is released.
Dracula has been particularly prevalent in games. There have been more than fifteen games directly related to the character, along with numerous others that use the vampire as inspiration. Some of the best-known computer games include Dracula 5: The Blood Legacy and Dracula Twins. There’s also a popular slot game from NetEnt, known as the Dracula slot. There are various places to play it, and players should look out for the top UK online bonuses when selecting a site as this can result in free playing money to use on games upon joining.
Potential Modern Dracula in the Works at Universal
Universal has already created and released a contemporary version of The Invisible Man. Leigh Whannell took a great deal of inspiration from the H.G. Wells novel but gave it a modern twist that satisfied today’s viewers. Reports suggest that the same could be done with Dracula, although there has been no official statement from the studio yet.
Universal had originally intended to create a shared universe for classic monsters, much like the DC Extended Universe. The Dark Universe officially began with Dracula: Untold in 2014, which was followed by The Mummy in 2017. However, neither of these films were commercially successful and Universal decided to scrap the idea. This means that the studio could potentially decide to revisit Dracula as an original story, rather than create a sequel to the 2014 offering.
BBC One’s Miniseries Provided a Taste of a 21st Century Dracula
BBC One recently released a three-part Dracula miniseries that was met with critical acclaim. The first two episodes stayed fairly true to the source material and portrayed the gothic vibe that is associated with the character. However, there was a shock twist in the third episode. It featured a time jump that brought Dracula forward to the modern-day. This was an interesting and unique idea, but it could have done with more development.
With most versions of Dracula being fairly similar over the years, it’s high time there was a big-budget modern twist on Stoker’s story. With The Invisible Man earning a number of plaudits, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Universal opt for a fresh take on Dracula in the years ahead.