You know, I’m something of a humbug myself. In one of the most insane film announcements in living memory, and yet one that makes a lot of sense, Willem Dafoe is the top target to star in A Christmas Carol under the direction of Robert Eggers, the visceral and demented filmmaker behind the likes of The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman and Nosferatu. Dafoe is set to take on the iconic role of Ebeneezer Scrooge. The project is currently in development at Warner Bros. Pictures, with Eggers not only set to write and direct, but also produce alongside Chris Columbus and Elenor Columbus via their Maiden Voyage banner.
For Eggers, A Christmas Carol is practically tailor-made. The 1843 novella by Charles Dickens isn’t just a festive fable—it’s a grim, Gothic tale filled with ghosts, regret, and redemption. Add in Eggers’ love of period-accurate misery, candlelit horror, and the taste of butter and it’s easy to see why he’s drawn to it. Picture The Witch with a yuletide twist. No word yet on who will be playing the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, or Yet to Come, but based on Eggers’ past casting moves, don’t be surprised if you see familiar faces (maybe even Anya Taylor-Joy or Alexander Skarsgård) lurking in the fog. We’re on board for Robert Pattinson to play Bob Marley, should Kermit the Frog be unavailable to reprise his role in this reboot.
Why Is ‘A Christmas Carol’ a Good Fit for Robert Eggers?
It’s the latest in a good run of creative reinventions from Eggers, whose gothic horror Nosferatu became the biggest box office success of his career, pulling in a staggering $181 million globally—including $95 million domestically—and landing four Oscar nominations for its haunting visuals and atmosphere.
Dafoe, meanwhile, continues to be a key piece of Eggers’ cinematic puzzle. He’s previously worked with the director on The Lighthouse, The Northman, and Nosferatu, chewing scenery with unparalleled intensity every time. His potential take on Scrooge is already the stuff of memes and nightmares: imagine him cackling in candlelight, shouting “Bah humbug!” like he’s summoning the devil.
However, before there are any halls to be decked, Eggers is set to shoot Werwulf, his upcoming werewolf feature for Focus Features. That will be one to keep an eye out for. No official release date has been announced for A Christmas Carol, but given Eggers‘ pace it’ll probably be sooner rather than later.
via Collider