He was last seen in the chilly climes of The Girl In The Spider's Web, and now Claes Bang's blood will run even colder. He's scored the key title role in Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss' new Dracula series.
Taking their inspiration from Bram Stoker's classic tale, the Sherlock duo are setting the new show in Transylvania in 1897, where the blood-craving count is plotting against the denizens of Victorian London. And it won't be long before he heads there... So far, the aim is to make three episodes in the same style as the Conan Doyle adaptations, though of course if it finds success, we can expect more.
"I am thrilled to be taking on the role of Dracula, especially when the script is in the hands of the incredible talents of Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and the team responsible for Sherlock," Bang says in a statement picked up by Deadline. "I’m so excited that I get to dig in to this iconic and super-interesting character. Yes he’s evil, but there’s also so much more to him, he’s charismatic, intelligent, witty and sexy. I realise that there’s a lot to live up to with all the amazing people that have played him over the years, but I feel so privileged, to be taking on this incredible character."
Gatiss, Moffat and producer Sue Vertue also seem happy: "It was one of those moments – who else could it be than Claes. He has it all. Brilliant, gorgeous, charismatic, lethal. Tall, dark and gruesome all at once."
The cameras will be rolling next year, but the BBC has yet to announce when it might hit screens.
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