Luc Besson Equates His Dracula To Classic Disney Masterpiece

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Luc Besson, the writer and director, reveals the inspiration behind the film’s familiar, Disney-like feel.

Besson pointed out that even though many artists have depicted women, each one’s style is unique – Modigliani’s necks aren’t the same as Picasso’s. He explained this was similar to how revisiting a story can feel fresh. He particularly wanted to work with Caleb Landry Jones again, and what resonated with him upon rereading the book was the idea of a character willing to wait four centuries just for one more moment with his wife.

Besson pointed out a connection to a classic Disney film, hoping audiences will recognize the similarities in his retelling of this timeless story.

I was so moved by the romance that I knew I had to tell this story,” Besson explained. “That’s all that matters to me, I don’t concern myself with what came before. I see the film as being more akin to Beauty and the Beast than Dracula.”

In Besson’s Dracula, Caleb Landry Jones plays the vampire, traveling from Wallachia to Paris to find Zoë Bleu, who portrays Mina Murray—the reincarnation of his beloved Elisabeta. The film also features performances from an unnamed Priest, Ewens Abid as Jonathan Harker, Guillaume de Tonquédec as Dumont, and David Shields as Henry Spencer.

The cast also includes Raphael Luce, Haymon Maria Buttinger, Matilda De Angelis, Bertrand-Xavier Corbi, and Salomon Passariello. After premiering in France in 2025, the acting in Dracula: A Love Tale received significant praise, though overall reviews of the film were generally positive but not outstanding.

What Can Fans Expect from Luc Bessons’ Dracula?

Currently, Rotten Tomatoes gives Dracula: A Love Tale a “Fresh” rating of 63%, based on 46 reviews from critics. As of today, there aren’t any user reviews available, but that will likely change after the film is released in North America on February 6th.

Luc Besson has repeatedly expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Caleb Landry Jones again after their successful work together on the 2023 film, Dogman. He described Jones as exceptionally talented, comparing him to Gary Oldman, and praised his genuine and down-to-earth personality, noting he doesn’t require a large team of agents or assistants.

Dracula: A Love Tale arrives in theaters on Feb. 6.

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2026-02-05 23:11