Awkwafina Joins The Cast Of Universal’s ‘Renfield’

On the heels of The Hollywood Reporter‘s exclusive naming everyone’s favorite mad man, Nicolas Cage, as Count Dracula in Universal Pictures’ Renfield, the publication announced today that the ensemble for the flick just got a bit bigger, and a lot more ridiculous.

Following a crowd-pleasing year starring in two Disney properties, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Raya and the Last Dragon, Awkwafina is joining Cage and Nicholas Hoult in Universal’s reimagining of the classic monster tale, with the latter of whom portraying the title’s namesake. According to the report, Awkwafina will step into the role of a confidant to Hoult’s Renfield.

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Her casting is in line with previous reports that the picture would take on more of a comedic tone than Bram Stoker’s seminal work of vampirism, given her success in tentpole comedies like Ocean’s 8, Crazy Rich Asians, and Jumanji: The Next Level. However, whether she’s stretching her comedic talent or winning over the award’s circuit in beloved indies, Renfield is another win for the actress.

The film is also backed by a whirlwind of talent behind the camera. Chris McKay, director of The Tomorrow War, will work off a script from Ryan Ridley, of Rick and Morty and Community success, that’s based on an original pitch from Robert Kirkman, who created the comic behind AMC’s longest-running show, The Walking Dead, and Amazon’s latest animated craze, Invincible.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to seeing Awkwafina in Universal’s latest? Let us know in the comments below!