Tom Neuwirth aka Conchita Wurst, the 2014 Eurovision Winner, Joins Isabelle Huppert in Vampire Movie ‘The Blood Countess' (EXCLUSIVE)
Magnify handles global and U.S. sales rights (excluding Austria, Ex-Yugoslavia, Germany, and Luxembourg) on the hot title and has unveiled a striking first-look image (pictured) from the film ahead of the Cannes film market where Austin Kennedy, head of global sales, and Phoebe Liebling, manager of global sales, will be pursuing deals.
More from Variety
ADVERTISEMENT
Directed by renowned German New Wave filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger, 'The Blood Countess' draws inspiration from the life and legend of Countess Elizabeth Báthory, the infamous 16th-century Hungarian noblewoman which is played by Huppert. The screenplay was penned by Ottinger and Elfriede Jelinek, the Nobel Prize in Literature winner and acclaimed author of 'The Piano Teacher.' The film is currently in post-production.
The cast is completed by Birgit Minichmayr ('Daughters'), Lars Eidinger ('Dying,' 'Personal Shopper'), Thomas Schubert ('Afire') and André Jung ('The Forger').
Huppert plays the Countess Elizabeth Báthory (aka 'The Blood Countess'), as she awakens from her long beauty sleep and emerges from the underworld. 'She and her devoted maid (Birgit Minichmayr) embark on a baroque quest through Vienna to recover the red elixir of life. The book, if found and read by the vampire's enemies, threatens their vampire realm. Hot on their heels are a vegetarian nephew (Thomas Schubert), his psychotherapist (Lars Eidinger), two vampirologists, a police inspector, and more lively characters in this twisted and humorous vampire tale,' the synopsis reads.
Producers are Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu ('Ingeborg Bachmann' – Journey into the desert') of Amour Fou Vienna, Bady Minck ('Hinterland') of Amour Fou Luxembourg, and Bettina Brokemper of Heimatfilm (exec producer on 'The Devil's Bath').
The key crew is lead by cinematographer Martin Gschlacht who notably worked on 'The Devil's Bath' which won the Silver Bear at the Berlinale last year; costume designer Jorge Jara ('Freak Orlando') and production designer Christina Schaffer ('The Girl With a Pearl Earring').
ADVERTISEMENT
Ottinger, whose best known films include 'Madame X – An Absolute Ruler,' 'Ticket of No Return' and 'Freak Orlando,' said 'This is the right time for the Blood Countess to wake up from her deep sleep and savor the present' because 'The world is upside down and events are repeating themselves in an eerie way.'
Magnify's slate also includes Gastón Solnicki's 'The Souffleur' starring Willem Dafoe; 'Filipiñana,' a first-time feature by Rafael Manuel (with Film4); Berlin Generation winner 'The
Botanist' directed by newcomer Jing Yi.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘One Piece' Renewed for Season 3 at Netflix as Streamer Drops First-Look at Season 2
'One Piece' is setting sail once again, with the live-action adaptation of the beloved manga and anime series getting an early Season 3 renewal at Netflix. The news came out of the annual One Piece Day celebration on Tokyo, where it was also revealed that Ian Stokes would be joining Joe Tracz as co-showrunner on Season 3. Stokes was previously a co-executive producer on Season 1. Production on the third season will begin later this year in Cape Town, South Africa. More from Variety Stephen Colbert Puts on JD Vance Mask and Says 'Netflix, Call Me' After CBS Cancels 'The Late Show': 'I'm Available in June' Netflix U.K. Revenue Surges to $2.4 Billion, Profits Grow 'Wednesday' Creators Break Down Season 2 Part 1: The Origins of Lois, Morticia and Hester's Psychic Trauma and Whether Tyler Can Be Rehabilitated 'One Piece' Season 2 does not have a premiere date, but it is slated to return in 2026 on Netflix. The streamer has also released several first look images from the new season, which can be seen below. Officially titled 'One Piece: Into the Grand Line,' the official description for Season 2 states: 'Netflix's epic high-seas pirate adventure, 'One Piece,' returns for Season 2—unleashing fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet. Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line—a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world's greatest treasure, they'll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.' Iñaki Godoy stars as Luffy. The cast also includes Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji. Additional cast members are Vincent Regan, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino, Morgan Davies, Aidan Scott, Langley Kirkwood, Jeff Ward, Celeste Loots, Alexander Maniatis, McKinley Belcher III, Craig Fairbrass, Steven Ward, and Chioma Umeala. Season 2 will introduce several new cast members, including David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3, Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra, and Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0. Netflix's 'One Piece' has gone through a number of showrunner changes across three seasons. The show was originally developed by Matt Owens and Steven Maeda. They served as co-showrunners on Season 1, but Maeda stepped down going into Season 2, with Tracz becoming co-showrunner. But then Owens also announced his departure from the series following work on Season 2. The Netflix show was created in partnership with Shueisha and produced by Tomorrow Studios (an ITV Studios partner) and Netflix. Owens and Tracz are writers, executive producers, and co-showrunners on Season 2. 'One Piece' creator Eiichiro Oda also executive produces along with Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements through Tomorrow Studios, Tetsu Fujimura, Chris Symes, Christoph Schrewe, and Maeda. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pedro Pascal Downplays Reed Richards Becoming the New Leader of the Avengers in ‘Doomsday': ‘That's a Little Bit of a Mislead'
Pedro Pascal is the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, but he is not the new leader of the Avengers. At least that's what the actor says… for now. An interview 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' director Matt Shakman gave to Variety earlier this month went viral for seemingly revealing that Pascal's superhero would be going on to lead the Avengers. It wasn't a far-fetched possibility for fans, as Pascal and his 'Fantastic Four' co-stars Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are all returning for next year's 'Avengers: Doomsday.' More from Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Sacha Baron Cohen Shocks Fans With Muscular Body Transformation to Play Marvel's Mephisto: 'This Is Not AI... Hard Launching My Mid-Life Crisis' Pedro Pascal: 'I Was So Appalled by the Way I Look' in 'Wonder Woman 1984' That 'I've Never Gone Back' to Being Clean Shaven for an Acting Role According to Shakman, Reed was the hardest role to cast in 'Fantastic Four' because 'he goes from being the nerdy scientist who's locked away in the lab, to the husband and the father who'd do anything to protect his family, to the guy who's leading the Avengers.' 'I realized that the version we were building had to have all of those elements,' Shakman said. But Shakman's comment was a bit of a mislead, according to Pascal. Speaking to the Associated Press, the 'Last of Us' and 'Mandalorian' favorite downplayed that leading the Avengers is the arc for his version of Reed Richards. 'It's big news to me, that's for one,' Pascal said. 'I think Matt Shakman was doing an interview and when he was speaking about Reed… there is something that happens in the comics where he is sort of drawn in by the Avengers family and asked to be put into a leadership position. That is something that happens in the comics. It isn't necessarily something that my character's future entails.'' Pascal then stressed, 'I am being honest in that. I am not even trying to avoid spoilers. It's a little bit of a mislead.' Shakman and Pascal have known each other for years and had the same talent manager at the beginning of their careers. Pascal told Variety that 'coming together for 'Fantastic Four' felt absolutely fated in the stars.' None of the four actors who play the Fantastic Four had traditional auditions for the movie. Instead, they were all cast have a meeting with Shakman. There were no chemistry tests either, although the group did have three weeks of rehearsals before filming started. 'We approached the story dramaturgically as you would a play, before we got on our feet with anything,' Pascal said. 'It was Matt setting up the circumstances to be together as a cast and flesh out a language that bonded each of us together as a family.' 'Fantastic Four' is now playing in theaters nationwide from Marvel Studios and Disney. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Macaulay Culkin Says ‘Home Alone 2' Is Better Than ‘Home Alone' Because ‘I Got Paid More': ‘I Think I Own Five Percent of the Net' Profit
'Home Alone' favorite Macaulay Culkin appeared on the latest episode of 'Hot Ones' and got asked to pick his favorite movie in which he played Kevin McCallister. Does Culkin prefer the 1990 original 'Home Alone' or its 1992 sequel, 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'? It turns out the answer is not too complicated for the former child star. Culkin did not hesitate to answer 'Home Alone' 2 and quipped: 'I got paid more. I think I own five percent of the net. And also 15 perfect of the merchandising. So, if you buy a Talkboy I'm like yeah, I'll take 15 percent of that. Thank you very much. By the way, buy a Talkboy this Christmas.' More from Variety Macaulay Culkin 'Cried' Over Brother Kieran's Oscar Win and Only Watched His Category: 'There Was No Way He Was Not Going to Win' Macaulay Culkin Cameos as Santa in Kim Kardashian's Creepy 'Santa Baby' Video Macaulay Culkin Says Joe Pesci 'Was Trying to Scare Me' During 'Home Alone' Rehearsals and Ended Up Biting My Finger: 'I Have a Scar' Both 'Home Alone' movies are considered classics and were box office hits. The franchise remains near and dear to Culkin's heart, not only because of its success but also due to the relationships he made with cast members like his on-screen mom Catherine O'Hara. When he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023, O'Hara showed up to give a heartwarming speech about her co-star. ''Home Alone' was, is and always will be a beloved global sensation … the reason families all over the world can't let a year go by without watching and loving 'Home Alone' together is because of Macaulay Culkin,' O'Hara said. 'I know you worked really hard, I know you did, but you made acting look like the most natural thing in the world to do.' Culkin toured the country last holiday season with 'A Nostalgic Night With Macaulay Culkin,' in which he hosted screenings of 'Home Alone' followed by a Q&A. At a stop in Rosemont, Ill., Culkin went viral for revealing his co-star Joe Pesci actually bit his finger while rehearsing a scene in which Pesci's thief Harry threatens Culkin's Kevin. 'He was trying to scare me,' Culkin remembered. 'He was like, 'I want to be menacing to this kid.'' Rumors have long persisted that Pesci intentionally tried to make Culkin think he was mean as to better facilitate their on-screen dynamic. 'That's what I heard,' Culkin said on 'Hot Ones' about the rumor. 'But you know, I can see why he was kind of like, 'I wanna scare the kid. I wanna be scary.' I just remember kind of just sitting there and he goes, 'How you doing, kid?' And I go, 'I'm actually tired. I haven't been home in like four or five months.' He goes, 'I haven't been home in three years.' I was like, 'I didn't really realize this was a dick measuring contest.' But yeah, I guess you beat the 10-year-old, Joe Pesci.' Watch Culkin's full 'Hot Ones' interview in the video below. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
