Lily-Rose Depp’s audition tape for Robert Eggers’ reimagining of Nosferatu has left a profound impact on everyone involved in the casting process. The director, casting team, and even the videographer were moved to tears by Depp’s raw, emotional delivery in the tape. Eggers described the performance as “incredibly brave, raw, and powerful,” noting how effortlessly Depp tapped into the dark and haunted emotions required for the role.
The audition tape was so striking that it instantly secured Depp the lead role in the film. According to Eggers, it was her deep emotional range that set her apart, laying the groundwork for the film’s darker, more evocative themes. This Nosferatu is a reimagining of the 1922 silent classic by F.W. Murnau, loosely inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The story follows a German realtor tasked with securing a property deal for the enigmatic Count Orlok, whose actions bring chaos to the realtor’s fiancée. Despite facing a copyright lawsuit from Stoker’s estate, Nosferatu has survived through bootlegs, eventually becoming a cult classic.
Eggers, who first discovered the original Nosferatu at the age of nine, brings a lifelong passion to this adaptation. He aims to honor the unsettling atmosphere of the original film while also exploring new emotional depths. With Depp’s fearless performance anchoring the project, Nosferatu promises to be a visually striking and emotionally charged tribute to the gothic genre.
This reimagining is set to captivate a new generation, offering both a tribute to the original and a fresh, haunting experience.
