Transforming Horror: Bill Skarsgård's Six-Hour Journey to Become Count Orlok in Eggers' Nosferatu Remake

The behind-the-scenes process of transforming actors into their roles for film can be an arduous and time-consuming endeavor. Bill Skarsgård's preparation for the character in the upcoming remake of Nosferatu highlights the lengths to which filmmakers go to ensure authenticity. This contrasts sharply with other productions, showing just how much effort is poured into creating the final product. In comparison to Colin Farrell's laborious makeup process for The Penguin, where he reportedly sat for nearly three hours to don the look and around forty-five minutes to remove it, Skarsgård faced a much more demanding routine.

Sources indicate that his transformation took around six hours. Robert Eggers, known for directing films such as The Northman, The Lighthouse, and The Witch, is leading this ambitious remake of the classic 1922 German film inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula. The film features a notable cast, including Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Skarsgård, who will inhabit the role of Count Orlok. Eggers communicated to Deadline that certain elements of Skarsgård's makeup process required an astonishing six hours to complete. With such a lengthy application time, one can only speculate how Skarsgård maintained productivity during his long workdays. Upon initially encountering the bust designed for his character, Skarsgård expressed that it didn't resemble him when he was alive and felt a bit daunted.

However, once he began the transformation, it sparked his creativity, indicating that he discovered a way to bring depth to the character. The makeup for Count Orlok was far more elaborate than Skarsgård's prior role as Pennywise, whose makeup application, while still lengthy, took two and a half hours, a much shorter duration in comparison. Nosferatu, a pioneering figure in cinematic vampire lore, has indelibly shaped the gothic aesthetics of the horror genre on film. Guillermo Del Toro, a distinguished name in horror, recently shared his commendation for Eggers' Nosferatu during a special screening of the film.

Del Toro is concurrently developing his own horror film adaptation of the Universal Monster, Frankenstein, featuring Jacob Elordi as the Creature and Oscar Isaac in the role of Victor Frankenstein. Del Toro expressed excitement over what Eggers showcased, appreciating the passion, care, and distinctive voice exhibited in his work. While Frankenstein is set to debut on Netflix, Nosferatu will enjoy a theatrical release before transitioning to streaming platforms, though updates regarding its availability have yet to be announced. As anticipation builds, audiences can look forward to witnessing Eggers' vision later this year, while Del Toro's take on Frankenstein is expected to arrive next year. Nosferatu is set to grace theaters on December 24, 2024.