Turns out, Bill Skarsgård wasn’t always a lock for the role of the creepy Count Orlok in Nosferatu. Apparently, the director considered a lineup of acting legends before Bill swooped in with his signature spooky charm. Buckle up, because the casting couch for this one must’ve been wild.
What’s Nosferatu, You Ask?
Think Twilight but with way less sparkle and way more terror. It’s a gothic horror flick starring Bill as a vampy villain who’s way too obsessed with Lily-Rose Depp’s haunted heroine. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t go well for anyone involved—except the box office. In just nine days, Nosferatu has sucked a cool $56 million from audiences, making it one of Focus Features’ top bloodsuckers—err, earners.
But Who Almost Sank Their Teeth Into the Role?
Before Bill donned the cape and fangs, these three acting titans were in the running:
1. Daniel Day-Lewis
Yes, that Daniel Day-Lewis. Imagine him method-acting his way into the role, sleeping in a coffin for six months and only communicating through ominous hissing. Honestly, it’s a tragedy we didn’t get to see him go full Dracula.
2. Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoe as Count Orlok feels like the most natural casting choice since peanut butter met jelly. He’s already got the creepy grin, and let’s not forget he’s played a vampire before in Shadow of the Vampire. Basically, he was halfway to the role before he even stepped on set.
3. Mads Mikkelsen
The man oozes menace. If you’ve seen him in Hannibal or Casino Royale, you know he can deliver “terrifying yet oddly sexy vampire” vibes on demand. Honestly, it’s shocking he didn’t end up in the role—maybe the fangs clashed with his cheekbones?
Bill’s Big Reveal
In a chat with Swedish outlet Moviezine, Bill spilled the casting secrets. “I know [director Robert Eggers] talked about Daniel Day-Lewis. And for a while, it was Willem Dafoe who was going to play him, when I was cast as Thomas. And Mads Mikkelsen,” he shared.
Wait, hold up—Bill was originally cast as Thomas? That role ultimately went to Nicholas Hoult, which is, like, the cinematic equivalent of switching seats in the cafeteria and ending up with a way cooler lunch tray.
Final Thoughts
Bill may have started as Thomas, but fate had other plans, and now he’s our Count Orlok. Sure, we’ll always wonder what a Daniel Day-Lewis vampire would’ve looked like (Oscar-winning, probably), but Bill nailed it, proving he’s the ultimate choice for a bloodthirsty, lovesick creature of the night.
The real horror story here is the competition—because let’s face it, no one wants to go head-to-head with Mads Mikkelsen or Willem Dafoe for anything.
