How The Nosferatu 2024 Cast Compares To The Original 1922 Movie (2024)

The first trailer for Robert Eggers' remake of Nosferatu is out now, and here's how the cast of the 2024 Nosferatu compares to the original 1922 movie. 1922's Nosferatu is considered to be one of the earliest and best horror films of all time, with it adapting the story of Dracula to the big screen. The legacy of Nosferatu has lived on for over 100 years now, and while there have been other remakes, Robert Eggers is in line to direct the next one. Robert Eggers' Nosferatu features an all-new cast playing these classic characters, and here's who they are.

F.W. Murnau's 1922 film Nosferatu was a historic film, with it defining the German Expressionist movement and establishing many of the common tropes seen in film vampires. Despite wanting to adapt the story of Dracula, Murnau didn't have the rights, leading to him making changes to names and characters in an attempt to safely make Nosferatu. The film has become a landmark of cinema in the years since its release, and now the trailer for Robert Eggers' Nosferatu remake shows that he is taking a swing at the story of Count Orlok.

8 Count Orlok

Bill Skarsgård

Despite commonly being referred to as Nosferatu, the antagonist of the 1922 film and its various remakes is actually the wealthy vampire, Count Orlok. In fact, the word nosferatu was actually used in writings like the original Dracula as a Romanian word that refers to vampires, creating the association between the story and the term. In the story, Count Orlok lives in a castle in Transylvania, with real estate salesman Thomas Hutter traveling there in order to sell him some land. Orlok then becomes fascinated with Hutter's wife, takes over a ship, and travels to the German town of Wisborg.

Count Orlok was played by actor Max Schreck in the 1922 original film, with the actor giving the vampire his iconic look. In Robert Eggers' 2024 Nosferatu remake, Orlok is played by Bill Skarsgård, famous for his performances in movies like It and Barbarian. The first trailer for Eggers' Nosferatu remake constantly teases the presence of Count Orlok, but the character is only shown from behind, with the movie most likely keeping its take on Max Schreck's iconic appearance secret until the remake releases.

7 Thomas Hutter

Nicholas Hoult

Thomas Hutter is the protagonist of Nosferatu, with him being a real estate salesman who is sent to Transylvania in order to sell Count Orlok some land in Germany. Upon his arrival, Hutter is warned of Orlok's powers by the Romanian people, although the eager salesman ignores their pleas and heads on to Orlok's castle. However, Hutter soon learns of Orlok's nefarious true nature as a vampire, with Orlok trapping him in the castle and heading off to Germany. Eventually, Hutter makes his way back to Germany, racing home in an attempt to save his wife from Orlok.

Thomas Hutter was played by actor Gustav von Wangenheim in the 1922 original Nosferatu, with this character being based on the Dracula character Jonathan Harker. The character is once again named Thomas Hutter in Robert Eggers' Nosferatu remake, with him this time being played by The Menu and Mad Max: Fury Road actor Nicholas Hoult. Hutter will most likely play a similar role in Robert Eggers' 2024 remake, with him being the first German to meet Orlok and accidentally sending the vampire on his way to the country.

6 Ellen Hutter

Lily-Rose Depp

In the original Nosferatu, Ellen Hutter is the wife of the real estate agent Thomas Hutter, with her being one of the most important characters in the film. While Thomas is in Transylvania, Orlok sees a picture of Ellen that Thomas has, with him becoming fascinated with her neck and heading off to Germany in order to find her. Thomas manages to warn Ellen of Orlok's arrival through letters, with her discovering that she can defeat him. Ellen decides to distract Orlok, allowing him to drink her own blood until he is lit by the sun and dies.

Ellen Hutter is played by actress Greta Schröder in F.W. Murnau's 1922 Nosferatu, with her being based on the character of Mina Harker from the original Dracula novel. In Robert Eggers' 2024 Nosferatu remake, however, Ellen Hutter is played by Lily-Rose Depp, with her bringing a new take on the classic horror character. Ellen seems to get a lot of focus in Robert Eggers' Nosferatu trailer, hinting that she may play a more significant role in the upcoming remake of the film.

5 Friedrich Harding

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Although Orlok, Thomas, and Ellen are incredibly similar to their counterparts in the original Nosferatu, the character of Friedrich Harding is where Robert Eggers' remake starts to depart, with him actually having a slightly different name than the character he is based on. In 1922's Nosferatu, Harding's counterpart is actually a character simply named Shipowner Harding. In the film, Harding is a friend of Ellen Hutter, with him noticing her odd behaviors upon Orlok's arrival in Germany.

In the original Nosferatu, Friedrich Harding is played by Georg H. Schnell, with this being one of the actor's most famous films. However, Eggers' Nosferatu remake has cast Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the character, signaling that Harding may have a bigger role in the upcoming movie. Interestingly the character of Fredrich Harding is actually based on a Dracula character named Arthur Holmwood, with him having a comparatively bigger role. In Dracula, Holmwood actively helps in the hunt for the vampires, something that isn't represented as much in Nosferatu.

4 Anna Harding

Emma Corrin

Anna Harding is another character who has undergone significant changes in Robert Eggers' Nosferatu remake, with her original movie and Dracula counterparts being incredibly different. Anna Harding is the wife of Friedrich Harding and another friend of Ellen's. In the original Nosferatu, the character is simply named Ruth, with her role in the film being minimized. In the original Dracula, however, Anna Harding is a character named Lucy Westenra, with her being turned into a vampire by the titular vampire.

In the original Nosferatu, Anna Harding's counterpart Ruth was played by Ruth Landshoff. However, Anna Harding will be played by Emma Corrin in Robert Eggers' Nosferatu remake, with them being famous for their roles in movies like Deadpool & Wolverine. It is possible that Anna Harding's role could also be expanded in the remake, shedding more light on this underdeveloped character.

3 Dr. Wilhelm Sievers

Ralph Ineson

Dr. Wilhelm Sievers is another character who appeared in the original Nosferatu, with the character returning for Robert Eggers' upcoming remake. In the original film, Dr. Wilhelm Sievers is the head of the mental hospital in Wisborg, a location that plays a major role in the film's story. Sievers is around for several of the scenes that are set in the mental hospital, with him and the other doctors attempting to figure out what happened to Knock.

In the 1922 original Nosferatu, Dr. Sievers is played by actor Gustav Botz. However, Robert Eggers' 2024 Nosferatu remake has cast beloved English actor Ralph Ineson as the character, with him being known for his roles in projects like The Witch, The Green Knight, and the Harry Potter movie series. It is possible that the casting of a major actor like Ineson could signal that his role in the Nosferatu remake will be expanded, fleshing out the original movie character even further.

2 Herr Knock

Simon McBurney

Herr Knock is a secondary antagonist in the 1922 Nosferatu movie, with him being a version of the iconic Dracula character Renfield. In Nosferatu, Knock is the real estate agent who sends Thomas Hutter to Transylvania in order to deal with Count Orlok. However, when Orlok makes his way to Germany, he brainwashes the villain and turns him into his servant. Knock is then admitted into the mental hospital, where he still attempts to carry out Orlok's will from behind bars.

In the original Nosferatu, Herr Knock is played by actor Alexander Granach, with his iconic performance having a huge influence on every version of Renfield that came after. However, in Robert Eggers' 2024 Nosferatu remake, Knock will be played by The Manchurian Candidate and Harry Potter actor Simon McBurney.

1 Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz

Willem Dafoe

The final and possibly most interesting addition to Robert Eggers' Nosferatu remake is Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz. In Nosferatu, the character is a metaphysician who has expertise in the occult and the supernatural, with him having knowledge of how vampires work and how to defeat him. The character is only named Bulwer in the original Nosferatu, but he is based on the immensely popular Dracula character Abraham Van Helsing.

In the original Nosferatu, the Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz counterpart Bulwer is played by the actor John Gottwot. However, Robert Eggers has cast iconic movie actor Willem Dafoe as the character, with him being one of the most eccentric parts of the trailer. Dafoe will undoubtedly do justice to the classic Nosferatu and Dracula characters, with the film possibly reinstating the character's massive role in defeating Dracula. However, further changes will remain unknown until the release of Robert Eggers' highly anticipated remake of Nosferatu.

Nosferatu (2024)

Horror

Fantasy

Mystery

Nosferatu is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name from directorF. W. Murnau. Robert Eggers is crafting his own version of the story for the reboot as writer and director, with Bill Skarsgård stepping into the shoes of Count Orlok.Nosferatu tells the tale of a young woman who falls victim to a vampire utterly infatuated with her.

Director

Robert Eggers

Release Date

December 25, 2024

Studio(s)

Regency Enterprises , 1492 Pictures

Distributor(s)

Focus Features , Universal Pictures

Writers

Robert Eggers

Cast

Lily-Rose Depp , Bill Skarsgard , Emma Corrin , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Nicholas Hoult , Willem Dafoe , Ralph Ineson , Simon McBurney