The first official trailer for Werwulf is out, and it shows Aaron Taylor-Johnson transforming into a werewolf against a backdrop of foggy 13th-century English countryside. The film is directed by Robert Eggers and is set to release in theaters on Christmas Day.
According to Variety, the logline reads: "In 13th-century England, a mysterious creature stalks a foggy countryside as local folklore becomes a terrifying reality for the villagers." The film has also been given the tagline "Werwulf is a harrowing tale of devotion, damnation, and the devil within."
Eggers wrote the script alongside his frequent collaborator Sjón, continuing a partnership that previously produced The Northman in 2022. The trailer was shot in a grainy 4:3 aspect ratio, one of Eggers' established stylistic trademarks. An ominous voice narrating a curse over a family runs throughout the footage before the transformation sequence closes it out.
The cast reunites several key figures from Eggers' last film, Nosferatu. Taylor-Johnson and Lily-Rose Depp both appeared in that 2024 Christmas release, as did Willem Dafoe. Ralph Ineson also returns. Ineson previously appeared in Eggers' 2015 debut, The Witch. Jack Morris, Jan Bijvoet, Ritchi Edwards, and Bodhi Rae Breathnach round out the cast. Maiden Voyage's Chris and Eleanor Columbus are executive producing.
Nosferatu performed well commercially and critically, giving Eggers and Focus Features reason to move forward quickly. The film opened to $21.6 million over three days and $40.8 million over five days, eventually grossing around $181 million worldwide. It received four Oscar nominations, including Best Cinematography, and five BAFTA nominations covering Cinematography, Costume Design, Hair and Makeup, Original Score, and Production Design.
Focus Features financed Werwulf and is producing alongside Eggers and Sjón. The studio has partnered on every Eggers film to date. Eggers' previous credits include The Lighthouse, which starred Robert Pattinson and Dafoe, and The Northman, which starred Alexander Skarsgård.
Werwulf arrives in theaters December 25.
