#New Plot Details Revealed as Adrian Martinez Joins the Cast

Another new name has been added to the cast of Renfield and along with this announcement comes some new plot details. As the title of the film suggests, the Universal movie will primarily follow Dracula’s henchman as the lackey finally slips into more of the central role. With Nicholas Hoult in the lead role, the movie will also feature Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, and Ben Schwartz. Now, it’s been reported that Adrian Martinez (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Focus) has just boarded the cast as well.

Per Deadline, Renfield will center on Renfield (Hoult), who has grown sick and tired of his centuries as Dracula’s (Cage) lackey. The henchman finds a new lease on life and maybe even redemption when he falls for feisty, perennially angry traffic cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina). Martinez will play the role of Chris, Rebecca’s traffic cop partner. These roles also confirm that this will be a modern take on the Dracula story, bringing the vampire and Renfield into the present day for this reimagining.

Adrian Martinez can be remembered for various movie roles including Focus with Will Smith and Margot Robbie, The Secret Life of Mitty with Ben Stiller, and Casa de mi Padre with Will Ferrell. Lately, he’s been featured in a main role on ABC’s Stumptown and had a role in the Bella Thorne thriller Measure of Revenge. Martinez is also stepping behind the camera for the new release of his directorial debut film iGilbert, in which he also stars.

Related: Nicolas Cage Teases a Funny and Unique Dracula Performance in Renfield

This is a Dracula movie at heart, but that’s not to say it’s going to be a straight horror film. Given that Awkwafina had been announced for a major role alongside the news that Nicolas Cage would play Dracula, it had started to become clear that this may be more of a comedy. Cage recently confirmed as much while speaking about the film, noting that the hope is to strike the right balance between comedy and horror.

“What makes it super fun is that it’s a comedy. And when you get that tone right — comedy and horror — like American Werewolf in London, it’s a blast. It’s got to be a bullseye,” Cage said. “But that’s what I’m looking for, something new to bring to the character, and also that perfect tone of comedy and horror.”

Renfield is based on an original story outline by The Walking Dead and Invincible creator Robert Kirkman. Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War, The LEGO Batman Movie) is directing the feature using a screenplay by Ryan Ridley (Ghosted, Rick & Morty). McKay is also producing with Skybound Entertainment’s film team, which includes Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan Furst, and Sean Furst. Samantha Nisenboim is exec producing.

Universal has not yet set an official release date for Renfield, but as the ensemble cast of the movie continues to take shape, some official announcements from the studio shouldn’t be too far off.

Read Next

About The Author