Robert Eggers To Helm A Christmas Carol Movie Featuring A Nosferatu Star

Following the critical and commercial success of Nosferatu, Robert Eggers is writing and directing A Christmas Carol movie adaptation. From Nosferatu to The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers’ movies have received considerable acclaim, and he has become known for his films’ unique visual style. He already has several other projects in development as well, including the werewolf horror movie Werwulf, set in 13th century England, and a sequel to Jim Henson’s 1986 film Labyrinth.

Per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, development at Warner Bros. is underway for Eggers to write and direct a new movie adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The part of Ebenezer Scrooge is being written for Willem Dafoe, who played Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz in Nosferatu, Thomas Wake in The Lighthouse, and Heimir the Fool in Eggers’ 2022 movie The Northman. Chris Columbus and Eleanor Columbus are attached as producers to the new A Christmas Carol movie.

What This Means For Robert Eggers

He Has Become The Unlikely King Of Christmas

Given the dark subject matter and exploration in his previous movies, tackling a new version of A Christmas Carol may initially seem like a surprising choice for Eggers. However, Christmas is already intertwined with Eggers’ legacy, as Nosferatu was released on Christmas Day 2024, and the movie performed incredibly well during and after the holiday. Studios were already looking to build on this success with Werwulf being dated for a Christmas 2026 release, and the momentum now continues with the filmmaker directing and writing A Christmas Carol.

Between Werwulf, the Labyrinth sequel, and now A Christmas Carol, Eggers’ future includes a range of original storytelling and familiar IP. In the case of Nosferatu, Eggers proved that he could boldly reimagine a horror classic in a way that was well-received by audiences. He now has a chance to accomplish a similar feat with A Christmas Carol, which has been adapted numerous times already, but never through the lens of Eggers’ visionary filmmaking.

Our Take On Robert Eggers’ A Christmas Carol

He & Willem Dafoe Are Perfect For A New Adaptation

Prof. Albin Eberhart von Franz (Willem Dafoe) looking worried in Nosferatu — Image via Focus Features

While I am usually skeptical about adapting a story that has been retold as many times as A Christmas Carol, I am genuinely excited about this news. Eggers’ past filmography bodes well for him bringing new style and substance to the familiar story. His experience in the horror genre can make the ghosts and Scrooge’s plight more terrifying on an existential level. Dafoe playing Scrooge is also exciting, as he has some of the best performances in Robert Eggers‘ movies. Dafoe also has the range necessary to capture Scrooge’s transformation from a cold-hearted person into a kinder and wiser man.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline