“The journal of the Demeter. Within the pages of the ship’s log, the captain relates how fear and madness overtook his crew, and how men mysteriously vanished—at first, one by one; then, several overnights, until the first mate jumps overboard and the captain alone is left. On August 4, the captain records discovering why his first mate chose to drown himself: “I saw It—Him!” But the captain resolved to stay with his duty, tying his hands to the helm and, along with his hands, “that which He—It!—dare not touch.” —Bram Stoker.

This haunting journal entry has always been one of my favorite parts of Stoker’s Dracula. Finally, after years of “development hell”, one of the greatest untold stories in horror is finally coming to the big screen. And, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, André Øvredal (The Autopsy of Jane Doe, 2016) is in negotiations to helm The Last Voyage of the Demeter for Amblin Partners.

Horror fans will know the Demeter as the cargo ship that brings Dracula from Transylvania to the shores of London, England. When the ship arrives, the Captain is tied to the ship’s wheel, and the crew has all mysteriously disappeared.

First reports on this project surfaced way back in 2002 and came close to production in 2012 with David Slade (30 Days of Night, 2007) attached to direct.

Øvredal recently helmed Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) and has also been connected with adapting Stephen King’s The Long Walk. As also reported by The Hollywood Reporter, overseeing The Voyage of the Demeter will be producers Bradley Fischer (Suspiria, 2018), Mike Medavoy (Black Swan, 2010), Arnold Messer (Zodiac, 2007). The film will reportedly be based on the script by Bragi Schut (Escape Room, 2019).

With no casting or release date information available, are you looking forward to seeing this untold Dracula story? When reading Dracula, how did you imagine the crew sisappearing? Share your thoughts by heading over to Twitter, Reddit, or in the Horror Movie Fiend Club on Facebook!