I’m incredibly excited for Robert Eggers’ 2024 remake of Nosferatu, but I am still sad about the missed perfect opportunity for a reunion. Robert Eggers is one of my favorite filmmakers in recent years, as I loved his movies like The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman. Now, Robert Eggers has directed a remake of the 1922 classic vampire film Nosferatu, and I can’t wait to see it. While the Nosferatu remake looks great, I still can’t help but think about how the movie was almost a great reunion, but this opportunity was lost during production.

The first trailer for Robert Eggers’ 2024 Nosferatu remake is out now, with the highly anticipated vampire movie set to release in December 2024. The film is a remake of the 1922 film of the same name, which itself is an unofficial German adaptation of the classic vampire novel Dracula. Despite Nosferatu being a simple knockoff of the Count’s original story, the film has become a cornerstone of film history due to its revolutionary filmmaking techniques and terrifying tone. It makes perfect sense for Robert Eggers to tackle a Nosferatu remake, but many have forgotten that the movie was almost different.

Anya Taylor-Joy Was Supposed To Star In The Nosferatu Remake (But She Was Replaced By Lily-Rose Depp)

She Had To Leave The Film

Early in the development of Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake, it was announced that Anya Taylor-Joy would be starring in the film, with this being first announced in August 2017. Director Robert Eggers continued discussing Anya Taylor-Joy’s involvement with the film in the subsequent years, with her being slated to play the female lead in Nosferatu‘s cast, Ellen Hutter. However, Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake eventually got pushed back as the director moved onto other projects, such as The Lighthouse and The Northman.

Eventually, Robert Eggers got around to directing the Nosferatu remake, with it being revealed that it would release after The Northman. However, when the film finally started getting developed, it was announced that Anya Taylor-Joy had left the Nosferatu remake. Instead, the role of Ellen Hutter would be played by Lily-Rose Depp, who is seen throughout the first Nosferatu trailer. It was never revealed why Taylor-Joy decided to leave the project, although I wouldn’t be surprised if it had to do with her appearances in major franchises like Dune and Mad Max.

Anya Taylor-Joy’s Previous Robert Eggers Roles Would Have Made Her Perfect For Nosferatu

She Played Similar Characters Before

Anya Taylor-Joy has collaborated with Robert Eggers twice in the past, and her previous roles in Robert Eggers’ movies would have made her perfect for Nosferatu. Anya Taylor-Joy has starred in Eggers’ The Witch and The Northman, both of which are period pieces with horror themes in which Anya Taylor-Joy plays peasant characters. This perfectly reflects the role she would have played in Nosferatu, as the story is a period piece and Ellen Hutter is a member of a German town that is terrorized by a supernatural force, that being Count Orlok.

Since Anya Taylor-Joy has worked with Robert Eggers twice now, it is clear that she and the director work well together, with her being a key element of two of his best films. Because of this, I was immensely excited to see their third collaboration in the Nosferatu remake. While Lily-Rose Depp will surely do great in Nosferatu, I am struggling to get over the missed potential of Anya Taylor-Joy and Robert Eggers’ second reunion after they initially worked together in The Witch.

Anya Taylor-Joy’s Nosferatu Role Could Have Continued A Robert Eggers Trend

Nosferatu Could Continue Common Eggers Themes

Not having Anya Taylor-Joy appear in Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake also misses another great possibility, as the film could have continued a Robert Eggers trend. Anya Taylor-Joy’s role in The Witch has often been read as feminist, with the controversial horror film focusing on Taylor-Joy’s oppressed protagonist living in a patriarchal and puritanical society. Many of these same themes are also explored through the lens of Taylor-Joy’s character in The Northman, in which she plays a character in a similar situation.

Since the trailer for Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake seems to be highlighting Ellen Hutter more than any other character, it is possible that the director could be putting a spin on F.W. Murnau’s classic film as well. If Anya Taylor-Joy had stayed attached to the project, she could have been involved in a third feminist film helmed by Robert Eggers, which is why I’m disappointed about her departure from Nosferatu.