Robert Eggers’ Bold Reason for Never Making Contemporary Movies

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Robert Eggers, the visionary behind chilling movies such as “The Witch” and the highly anticipated 2024 vampire film “Nosferatu”, has disclosed the reason behind his preference for historical settings in his films rather than contemporary ones. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not due to a lack of opportunities. Instead, Eggers finds no appeal in modern settings because of what they symbolize.

In a recent chat, the director shared thoughts on Nosferatu with Rotten Tomatoes. The discussion veered towards his impressive collection of movies. Without beating around the bush, RT inquired whether Eggers would consider creating modern films. His response was clear and decisive:

“I find the concept of taking pictures of cars nauseating, and capturing images of phones is simply unappealing. However, in today’s world, documenting a phone for a modern narrative has become inevitable—it’s just the way things are now, I guess not.

During the interview, the interviewer inquired about Eggers’ “limit,” or how contemporary his movies could be. While Eggers was forthcoming with his response, it’s evident that the director of films like The Lighthouse prefers not to delve into storytelling set in modern times.

“I might go potentially to 1950 but before World War II is more inviting for my imagination.”

To date, his four films – Nosferatu, The Northman, The Lighthouse, and The Witch – all fall under the genre of historical horror. To create an authentic atmosphere for these stories set centuries ago, the production designers must delve into the past. The most challenging of these, The Northman, is set in 895 AD, a time clearly defined by three digits, in the Scandinavian era.

What Is Robert Eggers Doing Next After ‘Nosferatu’?

Fresh from the triumph of his vampire masterpiece, “Nosferatu,” filmmaker Eggers is not slowing down on creating distinctive horror movies. Although his current film is yet to pass through this year’s award season (we hope that horror films finally receive the recognition they deserve), rumors are already swirling about potential projects that Eggers might undertake post-“Nosferatu.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that one of F.K. Eggers’ latest projects, titled “Werewulf,” is now officially in the works! This unique twist on the classic werewolf narrative will be produced by Focus Features, the same team behind the iconic “Nosferatu.”

Eggers and his co-writer from “The Northman,” Sjón, will join forces once more for a period piece that promises to transport us back to 13th-century England. The dialogue in this film will be spoken in Old English, so I suppose we’ll need some on-screen subtitles to fully grasp the story!

As of now, no casting decisions have been made public. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if we see some familiar faces from Eggers’ previous works, maybe even Willem Dafoe as a werewolf – that would be fantastic!

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but get excited about the buzz surrounding the potential modern sequel to the iconic 1986 musical fantasy, Labyrinth, directed by the legendary Jim Henson and starring Jennifer Connelly. Rumor has it that this masterpiece may be resurrected under the guidance of director Guillermo del Toro, who’s reportedly struck a deal with TriStar Pictures. If true, the film will be produced by Chris Columbus and his daughter Eleanor, who have previously collaborated with del Toro on Nosferatu.

The question on everyone’s mind is whether Jennifer Connelly will reprise her iconic role in this sequel. Another intriguing point is that if the sequel takes place in modern times, wouldn’t that go against del Toro’s rule of steering clear of contemporary films? Only time will reveal the answers to these questions, I guess.

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2025-01-27 21:01