Exclusive Insights: Director of New Dracula Movie Praises Guillermo del Toro's Mentorship, Shares Learnings!

Summary

Director André Øvredal secured the endorsement of Guillermo del Toro for The Last Voyage of the Demeter undertaking, owing to their solid professional bond developed during their earlier partnership.

Despite del Toro's unavailability during production, Øvredal had "extremely helpful" initial conversations with him, showcasing del Toro's evident influence on the movie.

Having previously collaborated on Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Øvredal already possessed a certain understanding of del Toro's imaginative thinking processes.

With the Oscar winner previously attached, director André Øvredal shares that he received Guillermo del Toro's approval when he took on The Last Voyage of the Demeter. The film is an expansion of a chapter from Bram Stoker's Dracula called "The Captain's Log." Although del Toro was initially set to direct, he had to step down due to scheduling conflicts and recommended Øvredal for the project, given their strong working relationship after collaborating on Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Øvredal discussed the release of The Last Voyage of the Demeter. Although del Toro was unavailable as a sounding board during production, as he was committed to Nightmare Alley and Pinocchio, Øvredal revealed that they had "extremely helpful" discussions in the early stages of pre-production. Additionally, their previous collaboration allowed Øvredal to have a deep understanding of del Toro's thoughts and perspectives. Read Øvredal's complete statement below.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter Still Carries Guillermo del Toro's Influence

Unfortunately, Guillermo del Toro was unable to act as my sounding board for production and post-production. He was occupied with two other films throughout the process of Demeter. He was simultaneously working on Nightmare Alley and Pinocchio. Nevertheless, I had insightful discussions with him before we commenced, which proved to be immensely valuable. My previous collaboration with him on Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark provided me with a profound understanding of his mindset. I acquired extensive knowledge about the intricacies of storytelling and gained a comprehensive perspective on examining a film from start to finish. Guillermo del Toro's extraordinary way of thinking was a tremendous influence on me.

If del Toro had remained as director, The Last Voyage of the Demeter would have likely presented a different appearance. Nonetheless, since one of his proteges assumed the role, the film still maintains traces of his distinctive influence. Øvredal's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark resonated with del Toro's artistic style, and even though he explores new realms in Demeter, their shared influences remain evident.

Del Toro's fondness for this project and desire to have a trusted individual take the helm is understandable. He has proven his expertise in the subgenre by approaching vampire stories in unique ways, starting with his creatively audacious debut Cronos in 1992. This was followed by the blockbuster sequel Blade II in 2002 and his involvement in the creation of the bloody FX series The Strain, based on a novel he co-wrote with Chuck Hogan.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter combines elements from all three of these works. While maintaining an atmospheric and intense tone, it also incorporates some of the blockbuster qualities seen in Blade II, which justifies its release in late summer. The reception from audiences without del Toro's direct involvement remains uncertain, yet the impact of those initial discussions can still be felt throughout.

Source: THR