Bill Skarsgård Almost Played a Completely Different Role in ‘Nosferatu,’ As Mads Mikkelsen Was Originally Attached to Orlok Role

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The remake of Robert Eggers’ film “Nosferatu” has been a worldwide success, but its appearance might have been distinct if the director’s initial plans had materialized. Approximately ten years ago, when Eggers first intended to direct this horror staple, it wasn’t initially Bill Skarsgård who was cast as Count Orlok.

In an appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Alexander Skarsgård disclosed that actors such as Mads Mikkelsen and Willem Dafoe were initially thought of for the role of the vampire. Interestingly, at that time, Skarsgård himself was being considered for a different character—Thomas Hutter, which eventually ended up being played by Nicholas Hoult.

Skarsgård reminisced about encountering Eggers over nine years back in the bustling city of New York. Fresh off the success of “The Witch,” Eggers was eagerly preparing to embark on his upcoming project, “Nosferatu.

As a film enthusiast, nearly a decade ago in bustling New York City, I had the pleasure of crossing paths with Robert Eggers. At that time, he was immersed in the creation of his next masterpiece, Nosferatu, following the success of The Witch. Reading the script for this upcoming project left me utterly astounded.

I pondered: ‘This is amazing, it’s completely in line with his character and fantastic.’ The script didn’t undergo significant alterations; it was essentially his vision. I auditioned for the role of Friedrich Harding, played by Aaron [Taylor-Johnson], in the film, and he suggested I might be suitable for Thomas Hutter. I tried out for that part, and I landed it, so a decade ago, I was meant to portray Thomas in this movie.

Initially, he auditioned for the role of Friedrich Harding, which was acted out by Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the last movie. However, Eggers subsequently thought about him as a candidate for Thomas Hutter. Skarsgård had been assigned to portray Hutter, but the project faced delay when it was temporarily halted.

Following a hold-up, Eggers transitioned to helm “The Lighthouse” and “The Northman”. Originally, Skarsgård was slated to star in “The Northman” alongside his brother Alexander; however, postponements due to COVID-19 prevented him from doing so. In a conversation with Josh Horowitz, he expressed his disappointment, stating, “It was heartbreaking. I was truly looking forward to it.

In retrospect, when the revival of Nosferatu was underway, many roles had already been claimed. However, Eggers had a fresh idea: casting Skarsgård as Count Orlok. All of a sudden, he contacted me and said, “I believe you could embody Orlok,” I reminisce.

The outcome was that Skarsgård shone in his role as the renowned vampire. The film “Nosferatu,” which starred Lily Rose-Depp and Emma Corrin along with him, premiered in US theaters on December 25 and graced UK screens on January 1.

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2025-01-06 15:44