If you thought there was some way to keep Dracula dead, you thought wrong. Even after the poor showing and mixed reviews of both Dracula Untold & Netflix’s Dracula, the spirit of the Count lives on. Just this time on network television. Now in the form of Gina Torres (Suits, Firefly), on a show called The Brides.
Ok, so while she isn’t playing Vlad himself, Torres will head ABC’s series entitled The Brides. As one of the leads Torres will play, you guessed it, one of Dracula’s Brides. At the same time, it’s being viewed as a contemporary reimagining of the classic Dracula story. Which, depending on if you follow Variety or Deadline‘s thread, is either a soap opera or drama.
Here’s the synopsis for the show:
“The Brides is a vampire soap about empowered, immortal women and the things they do to maintain wealth, prestige, legacy — and their nontraditional family.”
Torres plays Cleo, described as having a “queenly manner”, given that she was an actual queen. At least, before becoming undead. Apparently, she spends her time in the present as a New York real estate mogul, who’s relationship with her “sisters” is somewhat strained. The strangest element is though the focus will be on The Brides, Dracula is said to be a prominent character, too. No clue to what extent his part will be or how good an idea his inclusion is. Can’t they just mention him off-hand and have that be that?
While a horror focused major network show may seem meh, there is reason (outside Torres’ involvement) to be excited. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Maggie Kiley of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina are set to write and direct the series pilot. Aguirre-Sacassa will also be executive producing alongside Berlanti Prods. Yes, as in Greg Berlanti, because he’s everywhere. The fan bases of all these people should prove enough to at least help the production get past the initial phases. If the casting decisions fro the other two brides is equally compelling, that is.
As per usual, since this is just in the “pilot” stage, anything could happen. A few weeks from now the whole thing could be scrapped. Or Torres gets replaces. Or, in an exciting turn, should the production eventually be too bloody or salacious for regular television viewing, it could get picked up by a streaming network. Once more is known about The Brides, expect several updates. Worse case scenario, someone leaves the script out in the sun and the whole thing turns to dust.
