Desperately Hoping for Robert Eggers’ Rumored TV Series After Nosferatu

Robert Eggers’ latest film, Nosferatu, showcases his exceptional talent for slow-burn horror and nuanced character exploration. This film has intensified my anticipation for a rumored television series that Eggers had been developing. In Nosferatu, the legendary Bill Skarsgård portrays the terrifying vampire Count Orlok, who wreaks havoc on a coastal German town during the 1830s through a mix of psychological torment, infestation, and visceral bloodshed. As is characteristic of Eggers’ work, this film has received widespread acclaim for its meticulous attention to detail, atmospheric world-building, and stunning cinematography.

While Eggers’ earlier projects have featured supernatural entities like witches, mermaids, undead monarchs, and Valkyrie warriors, Nosferatu uniquely places the monstrous figure at the narrative’s center. Though the extraordinary cast delivers memorable performances, it is Skarsgård’s portrayal of Count Orlok that truly captivates the audience. Having witnessed the profound impact of making a creature the focal point of a film, my enthusiasm grows for Eggers to revive his much-anticipated TV series that was initially announced nearly ten years ago but has since been sidelined.

Eggers’ Ambitious Plans for a Rasputin Series

Exploring the Life of Grigori Rasputin

Back in 2016, shortly after the success of his debut film, The Witch, Deadline reported that Eggers was enlisted to write and direct a six-to-eight episode limited series about Grigori Rasputin, the infamous Russian mystic whose influence burgeoned in the early 20th century. The proposed series aimed to chronicle Rasputin’s life story, detailing his impoverished upbringing in Siberia, his ascent to prominence alongside Tsar Nicholas II, and culminating in his brutal assassination in St. Petersburg in 1916.

Rasputin has often been portrayed as a villain in various cinematic interpretations, including the animated classic Anastasia, Matthew Vaughn’s action film The King’s Man, and the 2004 superhero movie Hellboy.

Although detailed information about the project’s development remains scarce, it was clear that Eggers would be at the helm, as he has been for his other films. Unfortunately, the series did not receive a green light due to various production challenges, including potential filming in Russia—a significantly complicated endeavor given current geopolitical tensions. Since the announcement of the series, Eggers has successfully released The Lighthouse, The Northman, and now Nosferatu, all without any significant updates regarding the Rasputin project.

Why Nosferatu Highlights Eggers as the Ideal Choice for Rasputin

Delving into the Nature of Evil

In my estimation, Nosferatu is Eggers’ finest work to date, primarily due to the profound character development. While the cast delivered stellar performances, Eggers’ screenplay excelled in portraying the intricacies of character motivations. The gradual unveiling of Count Orlok’s malevolence was executed with exceptional skill and pacing, instilling confidence that Eggers could adeptly convey the madness of Grigori Rasputin.

The theme of an inner struggle against evil is consistent throughout Eggers’ body of work. For instance, Lily-Rose Depp’s character, Ellen Hutter, embodies the conflict of guilt and her own sinister impulses, further supporting the idea that Eggers is ideally suited for the Rasputin narrative. Should the series follow the mystic’s life trajectory, it would necessitate deep character exploration, illustrating his transformation from a Siberian peasant to a central figure in Russian history. Imagining Rasputin’s gradual descent into depravity is both compelling and exhilarating, especially under Eggers’ direction.

This internal conflict with madness and evil is prevalent in Eggers’ storytelling. For example, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) evolves from an innocent girl into a loyal follower of Satan in The Witch. Similarly, Thomas Howard (Robert Pattinson) grapples with his guilt while succumbing to madness in The Lighthouse. Furthermore, Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) battles his own rage and quest for vengeance in The Northman. Rasputin’s tumultuous journey fits perfectly within Eggers’ artistic vision.

The Future Outlook for Eggers’ Rasputin Series

Potential Developments on the Horizon

Count Orlok's eyeline in extreme closeup in Nosferatu

Despite the lack of recent progress, Eggers’ Rasputin series is far from obsolete. In a recent interview with Variety, Eggers was asked about the status of the series. He responded with hesitation, stating, “I don’t think I’ll be shooting on location in Russia anytime soon.”However, this does not suggest the project is permanently shelved. There are whispers that Eggers is juggling at least five new projects, including an ambitious medieval film titled The Knight and a project set in the world of the beloved 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth.

Overview of Robert Eggers’ Filmography
Film	Release Date	Budget	Box Office	Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Witch	February 19, 2016	$4 million	$40.4 million	91%	60%
The Lighthouse	October 18, 2019	$11 million	$18.3 million	90%	72%
The Northman	April 22, 2022	$70-90 million	$69.6 million	90%	64%
Nosferatu	December 25, 2024	$50 million	Pending	87%	76%

The Rasputin series remains a potential contender among Eggers’ forthcoming projects. His fervor for portraying “The Mad Monk”since the series’ initial announcement suggests it may yet resurface in the near future. Given the financial and critical successes of Nosferatu, it is reasonable to expect that Eggers will secure more opportunities to explore his creative visions and utilize larger budgets.

Sources: Deadline, Variety

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