There’s a ghost of Christmas future for Robert Eggers and Willem Dafoe. The pair are eyeing a reunion on a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at Warner Bros.
While no talent is currently attached to the project in this nascent stage, individuals familiar with development noted Eggers’ longtime working relationship and fondness for Dafoe. Sources would not be surprised if the “Nosferatu” star made it into the package in the near future. The pair first worked together on A24’s seaside black comedy “The Lighthouse” and Dafoe returned for supporting roles in Eggers’ two subsequent period pieces at Universal’s specialty banner Focus Features, “The Northman” and “Nosferatu.”
As “A Christmas Carol” remains in development, Eggers is still booked to direct “Werwulf” beforehand for Focus. “Christmas Carol” would be Eggers’ first feature at Warner Bros.
Eggers’ remake of “Nosferatu” became a box office breakthrough for the director and Focus when it released last December, grossing $181 million globally. It also brought considerable prestige praise, landing four Oscar nominations across cinematography, costume design, production design and makeup and hair styling.
The original Dickens novella, published in 1843, has seen plenty of adaptations from production banners major and minor over the decades. There are annual stage shows by local theater troupes, animated films from around the world and small-scale independent features. The Muppets, Mr. Magoo, Scrooge McDuck and Barbie have all been plugged into the story, while directors like Robert Zemeckis, Sean Anders and Richard Donner have all taken cracks at the classic material.
