JONNY LEE MILLER IN DRACULA 2000

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THE STAX SCRIPT REVIEW. Features MAJOR spoilers

Dracula 2000 brings the undead count stateside where he wreaks havoc on New Orleans at the dawn of the new millennium. This script also creates a new origin for Dracula that differs greatly from both the Bram Stoker novel and the popular 1992 film adaptation directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola's movie drew much of its backstory from the history of Vlad the Impaler, the real-life figure who served as the inspiration for the Dracula legend. The origin story presented in Dracula 2000, however, bears a closer similarity to the idea behind Barry Sadler's Casca novels than it does to either Stoker's book or to Vlad the Impaler. If you've read Sadler's books then you may understand what I'm hinting at with my comparison to Casca; if you haven't then I've not spoiled anything for you. Overall, I liked this new origin for Dracula except that it didn't adequately explain how he (physically) became a vampire. It does, however, provide rational explanations for Dracula's susceptibility to both crucifixes and silver.

A few characters from Bram Stoker's novel are re-invented here, with modern incarnations of Abraham Van Helsing/Matthew Van Helsing (both Plummer, I presume, since Abraham's just a cameo) and Lucy "Westerman" (Vitamin C). Mary, the daughter of the ailing Matthew Van Helsing, recalled Mina Harker to a degree since she serves as both the female lead as well as the Count's romantic objective. But, overall, this script was more of a whitebread remake of Blade than an updating of Stoker's novel.

Dracula 2000 opens with a brief glimpse at Dracula's new origin but unless you know your Judeo-Christian history, Dracula's true identity will remain a mystery until the story's climax. This opening sequence is followed by a brief encounter in the 19th century between Abraham Van Helsing and Dracula, where Van Helsing captures the count and conceals his remains deep within Carfax Abbey. The story then jumps to the present day. Carfax Abbey is now inside a highly secure office building owned by Abraham Van Helsing's great-grandson Matthew (Plummer), who is ailing from a mysterious illness. Matthew's heir apparent in the vampire hunting trade is young Simon Sheppard (Miller), whose day job involves the restoration and cataloguing of antique weaponry. After a gang of thieves, led by the vicious Marcus (Epps?) and the alluring Solina (Esposito), botch their attempt to steal Dracula's remains from Carfax Abbey, the undead count escapes to New Orleans. That is where Mary Van Helsing (Waddell), Matthew's enigamtic, estranged daughter, currently resides.

Mary has forsaken "the family business" in favor of working at the Virgin Megastore with her best friend Lucy (Vitamin C); there are a few good cracks made about the store's name and its obvious appeal to the seductive Count. Against her wishes, Mary is eventually drawn into her father's war with Dracula when Simon arrives in New Orleans. Simon must hunt down and destroy the escaped Count, a duty that brings him into conflict with Marcus' gang. Minor characters in New Orleans include ambitious TV reporter Valerie Bleth (Ryan) and local cop Perris Gautreaux. This draft's last act was a series of chases and clashes between Simon, Mary, Dracula, and the gang of thieves. The script ended with an all-too-obvious set-up for a sequel.

Overall, I found Dracula 2000 to be a decent but formulaic entry in the vampire film genre. The script left me feeling rather ambivalent. I did not dislike it but I wasn't bowled over, either. As I sat down to read it, I must admit that I expected it to be nothing more than a cheesy B-movie. To my surprise, though, that was not really the case. The script took itself quite seriously. Unfortunately, I just never knew enough about the characters to truly care for them and the story itself followed all the requisite beats of the vampire movie narrative. Although my copy was missing a few pages from the latter part of Act Two, I was still able to follow and understand the plot line. That tells you something about a script if you can miss what is essentially a few minutes of screen time and still figure out what happened; are those missing moments really that necessary then?

Like Blade, the film this story most closely resembles, this is a horror flick targeted for the youth demographic that has sketchy characters inhabiting a skimpy story full of gore and mayhem. The story is basically "kill the vampire"; actually, that is the plot to every vampire movie so you can understand why I found Dracula 2000 overly familiar. The fate of certain characters was never in doubt and this story ended just as I'd expected it would. Like Blade, there are a couple of characters torn between their vampirism and their humanity. Marcus' gang reminded me of the bad-asses that Deacon Frost surrounded himself with. And with his array of vampire-killing weaponry, Simon came across as an Anglo-Saxon version of Wesley Snipes' character. I can see why Jonny Lee Miller agreed to do this movie since he gets to play with all the cool toys.

This draft was chock full of characters nearly indistinguishable from those in any other given vampire film. There were compelling back stories set-up for the story's main troika of characters (Dracula, Matthew Van Helsing, and Mary) but they were never fully explored. Mary spent a large amount of time reacting to odd hallucinations rather than performing any action of much consequence. This script, especially in its latter half, revolved mainly around Mary but I just didn't know or care enough about her for the story to pull me in the way that it should have.

I find it hard to say a lot about Dracula 2000, or to even to develop much of an opinion on it, since there just wasn't all that much to it. It's a "kill the vampire" movie, pure and simple, and one that I've seen several times already. Reading this script was akin to watching a re-run on cable; I was entertained but also mildly disinterested. The story itself was briskly executed, enlivened most by Dracula's diatribes against God (and the revelation of the count's real identity) during the homestretch. These were the moments when the story actually came alive but, because Dracula was such a supporting character, these moments were few and far between.

On a positive note, the dialogue was better than I expected with Mr. Soisson using a "less is more" approach. The setting of New Orleans at the height of Mardi Gras, replete with macabre imagery and decadent celebrations, should also provide the filmmakers with some interesting visuals. But this Louisiana setting only reminded me of Anne Rice's well-known Vampire Lestat stories. Fortunately, this script was a far less excruciating read than the screenplay adaptation of Rice's Queen of the Damned. Still, both of these vampire-themed scripts suffered from the same problems: an overabundance of supporting characters and a lack of development in the main protagonists.

No offense is meant here to Mr. Lussier but I wish that Wes Craven was directing this movie rather than just producing it. I find the films that he produces (like Wes Craven's Wishmaster or Wes Craven's Mind Ripper) are often inferior to his directing efforts (Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street). While the able cast of Dracula 2000 will surely class things up, they can't conceal a routine story with transparent characters. Still, even though I had no desire for or real interest in enduring yet another take on the Dracula legend, I found this script somewhat entertaining in a perfunctory sort of way. If you appreciate vampire flicks then you'll probably enjoy Dracula 2000 for what it is, otherwise you'll likely consider this a somewhat forgettable genre romp. - STAX

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NEWS FROM THE SET

On Tuesday night at Pirate's Alley, Wes Craven will be filming a scene for his new movie, Dracula 2000, starring Jonny Lee Miller (Sickboy from Trainspotting) and Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine from Star Trek: Voyager). I'm going to try to watch, as Pirate's proprietor, Adam, has said that he's not going to kick out the regulars during the shooting. Saturday afternoon, in fact, there's an extras casting session at some place on Clearview Parkway in Metairie. Applicants should be dressed in Mardi Gras costumes, I've heard. I may go check it out. View this article here

And here's a chronology of scoops sent to CA over the course of the summer from readers who spotted the production filming in Toronto and New Orleans. A word of warning though: some minor spoiler information in contained in some of these scoops, but nothing that gives away any story or character arcs.

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PRE PRODUCTION NEWS

News and Rumors:

June 22, 2000

Gerard Butler (Mrs. Brown) has been tapped to take on the title role in Dimension Film's upcoming Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000. In addition to Butler, Variety is reporting that Sean Patrick Thomas (Cruel Intentions) has also joined the film's cast. D2000 is scheduled to start filming later this year with Patrick Lussier directing. The film also stars Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Esposito, Vitamin C, Jonny Lee Miller and Jeri Ryan.

June 12, 2000

Though there's been quite a lot of casting done for Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000, but the all-important title role remains to be filled. While talking to EW Online, the film's director, Patrick Lussier, spoke of the problems involved in filling the part, saying, "There's so much baggage that comes [with the part] -- Dracula is [one of] the most filmed characters in cinematic history." Lussier does say that the production is "still scouring the earth" to fill the part. Regarding the film's script by Joel Soisson with Ehren Kruger, Lussier reveals that the story will include "an origin for Dracula that was never resolved." He adds, "It's very scary."

June 1, 2000

The official Jeri Lynn Ryan Homepage reports that Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager) has been cast in Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000. The site says that Ryan's role is that of a "New Orleans-based journalist searching for the vampire". The film will be directed by Patrick Lussier, who worked as editor on many of Craven's films, including the Scream trilogy.

May 30, 2000

Empire Online reports today that Jonny Lee Miller has joined the cast of Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000. To be directed by long-time Craven collaborator Patrick Lussier, the film will update the classic Stoker tale to modern times. Lee is rumored to play the part of an antiques expert assisting Dr. Van Helsing, who is plaeyed by Christopher Plummer.

May 26, 2000

Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting, Mansfield Park) is the latest addition to the cast of Dimension Films' Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000 project. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Miller will take on the role of London antiques dealer who joins Van Helsing (Christopher Plummer) on his journey to America to rescue the elder vampire fighter's daughter from his greatest foe, Count Dracula.

May 24, 2000

Two actresses have joined the cast of Dimension Films' Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000 project. According to the Hollywood Reporter, singer turned actress, Vitamin C, will play a woman who is seduced by the undead count as a means of getting to her roommate, the daughter of Drac's old enemy, Van Helsing. In addition, Jennifer Esposito (Summer of Sam, Shaft) has jumped in to play the part of a thief who falls under the domination of Dracula as well. As previously reported, the part of Abraham Van Helsing will be played by Christopher Plummer. As yet, no one has been selected for the role of Dracula. Production of the film starts this summer. Patrick Lucier will direct with a script by Joel Soisson.

May 1, 2000

Christopher Plummer (The Insider) has signed on to Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000. According to Variety, Plummer will take on the role of a London antique dealer named Abraham Van Helsing. This modern day version of the Bram Stoker novel takes Van Helsing to America to save his daughter, Mary, from the evil Count Dracula, his long time nemesis. The Dimension Films project will be directed by Patrick Lussier with a script by Joel Soisson, who will also produce. Production is scheduled to shoot this summer. Maybe they should think about changing the title to Dracula 2001.

November 3, 2000

The Frankenstein Monster and its Bride, The Mummy and Godzilla aren’t the only movie monster icons getting a modern day facelift. Now, Dracula is about to get a modern look courtesy of Dimension Films and the "Wes Craven Presents" banner. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the new film, called Dracula 2000, was conceived by regular Wes Craven editor Patrick Lussier who will also helm the eventual film. Lussier provided editing duties for Craven’s Scream trilogy and Music of the Heart as well as such non-Craven genre projects as Halloween: H20 and Mimic. Details of the film’s story are being kept mum by the studio, though the trade reports that the film will be a modern update of the classic story. Plans are to start production early next year with a tentative release date of October. The film’s script has been written by Joel Soisson (Phantoms). Soisson and Keith Border will produce the eventual film.

Reports taken from this excellent site

This new millennium version of Bram Stoker's novel stars Christopher Plummer, hot off his Oscar-nominated turn in The Insider (1999), as English antiques dealer Abraham Van Helsing. He's tangled with Count Dracula in the past, and now the vampire is after Van Helsing's daughter in America. So Father hops the Atlantic to help his daughter fend off the fanged fellow.

Starring Christopher Plummer, Vitamin C, Jonny Lee Miller, Jennifer Esposito Directed by Patrick Lussier Written by Joel Soisson Studio Dimension Films

6/12/00 Editor Patrick Lussier reports that the film still doesn't have a Dracula in part because "there's so much baggage" associated with the role since Dracula is one of "the most filmed characters in cinematic history." (Entertainment Weekly)

• 05/25/00 Dimension Films co-chairman Bob Weinstein announced that Jonny Lee Miller (Mansfield Park, Trainspotting) has joined the cast.

• 05/24/00 Musician Vitamin C, whose song "Graduation (Friends Forever)" is a pop hit, has been cast to star. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• 04/30/00 Horror-meister Wes Craven is executive producing; hence the "Wes Craven presents" in the film's title. (Baseline)

• 04/30/00 Rock bands Korn and Rage Against the Machine are onboard for the film's soundtrack. (Baseline)

• 04/20/00 Neophyte director Patrick Lussier — Dracula 2000 is his second feature — cut his teeth (fangs?) as editor of all three Scream movies. (IMDB)

• 04/30/00 Production delays have Hollywood wags wondering whether this film should be redubbed Dracula 2001. (Upcomingmovies.com)

• Wes Craven's film "Dracula 2000" is now becoming known as D2K. Craven will produce while his long time editor Patrick Lussier will Direct. Christopher Plummer has been cast as Van Helsing, whilst other more important roles are yet to be cast. Shooting begins on June 15 and wraps on July 28 and it will be shot in Canada. This will be the second remake of Dracula that Craven has been involved with, remember "Vampire in Brooklyn"

Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000

Based upon: This movie is said to be a modern retelling (in a modern setting) of the story as depicted in Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Premise: Abraham Van Helsing (Plummer) must travel from London to New Orleans to rescue his daughter Mary (Waddell) from his lifelong nemesis, the vampire Dracula (Butler). (Note: One early rumored aspect of the plot was that it was about a young woman trying to stop a group of people seeking immortality by stealing Dracula's remains. Though the latest reports haven't mentioned this, it seems possible that the "young woman" could be Van Helsing's daughter, Mary, but that's not confirmed). (Vitamin C plays a young woman that Dracula seduces to get to her roommate; Esposito plays an expert thief who falls under Dracula's spell; Jonny Lee Miller has signed on to play an antiques dealer who helps his mentor, Dr. Van Helsing; Ryan plays a New Orleans journalist).

Filming: Production started on this movie on June 26th, 2000 with locations to include Toronto and New Orleans.

• Greg's Preview Thoughts: Details of this film haven't been announced yet, but with production likely to start very soon, we should find out more about this movie then, and I'll certainly keep track of it here. For now, the wording "modern retelling" combined with the 2000 in the title makes me think this film isn't set in the 19th century but the 21st. We should hear more soon enough. (Such as who is being cast as Dracula)    
• (3/3/00) Well, Dimension Films is at the American Film Market with this project, and from that, I've got the premise of the film which is indeed a departure from the standard Dracula myth. It appears to be approaching him from the point of view of a "What If" scenario. What if the story of Dracula really happened, and today 100 years later, someone wanted to use him for their own purposes?
• (4/4/00) There's still no word about a production date for this movie, which is making it look less and likely that it will get made in time for a 2000 release. Maybe the title will soon be Dracula 2001?
• (5/2/00) Christopher Plummer is the first actor to sign on to star. (5/17/00) Dimension is aiming for a December 22nd release now, which will allow them to (barely) still use that "2000" label, though they're still going to have to rush it to make it to theaters in time, which makes this a similar case to when Scream 3 and Reindeer Games were racing for December in 1999. (Both films were eventually moved to dates in February, 2000).
• (5/24/00) Pop singer Vitamin C and actress Jennifer Esposito have signed on in supporting roles. (5/26/00) Jonny Lee Miller has joined the cast as well. (6/1/00) British stage actress Justine Waddell has signed on to star as Van Helsing's daughter, Mary. Jeri Ryan of Star Trek: Voyager has signed on.
• (6/24/00) Gerard Butler has signed on to play the lead role of Dracula. Sean Patrick Thomas has also signed on.

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SICKBOY DOES DRACULA.

Speaking of vampires, Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000 has nabbed itself some fresh blood. Jonny Lee Miller (still best known as the bleached-blond, James Bond-loving heroin addict Sickboy in Trainspotting) will star as Simon Sheppard, the antiques-dealing protégé of Dracula nemesis Abraham Van Helsing. Miller joins Christopher Plummer (The Insider), Jennifer Esposito (Summer of Sam), and pop songstress Vitamin C (whose real name is Colleen Fitzpatrick) in what Dimension Films is calling a "21st century re-telling of the Bram Stoker classic." The plot finds Sheppard and Van Helsing traveling from London to New Orleans to save the old man's daughter from the evil bloodsucker. Editor Patrick Lussier, who scissored Wes Craven's Scream trilogy and Halloween H20, will take the director's chair. Joel Soisson (the upcoming Highlander: Endgame) wrote the new take on the age-old tale of bloodlust. The spooky flick isn't set for a Halloween release, however. Look for it to open wide December 22. Of course, if the studio misses that year-end release date, they're also looking at changing the title to Dracula 2001.

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DIMENSION BITTEN BY DRACULA 2000

First Project By Wes Craven and Marianne Maddalena From "Wes Craven Presents" - Dracula 2000 will be the first project produced under the "Wes Craven Presents" banner for Dimension Films, it was announced today by company co-chairman Bob Weinstein. The screenplay, written by Joel Soisson (Prophecy, Highlander 4: A New Order and Phantoms) is based on an idea by Patrick Lussier (Prophecy 3), who will direct the film. "This is a great opportunity for us to develop talent and material from within our ranks," said Bob Weinstein. "It’s like making a film with the family. Patrick and Joel have delivered for us over and over, and with Wes and Marianne guiding them, this is going to be a really fun film." "Patrick Lussier is a young man you’ll be hearing more about and Dracula 2000 is a great project for him to show his stuff," said Wes Craven. "We’re proud and delighted that we at Craven/Maddalena Films will be presenting him and this unique project to what will surely be a wide and loyal audience of their own." "It’s a great privilege for me to not only continue my decade-long relationship with such a brilliant filmmaker and mentor like Wes Craven, but also to direct again for Bob Weinstein and the creative Dimension team," said Patrick Lussier. "Joel and I are extremely excited to make Dracula 2000 which such great collaborators like Wes, Bob, Marianne, Andrew Rona and Cary Granat."

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