BLOOD SIMPLE: Jonathan Rhys Meyers (left) as Dracula and Jessica De Gouw (right) as Mina on “Dracula.” (
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Jonathan Rhys Myers. who has successfully played both Elvis Presley in a TV movie and King Henry VIII on “The Tudors” will transform himself yet again when he returns this fall in the title role of the new NBC series “Dracula.”
Developed by Gareth Neame, the executive producer of “Downton Abbey” and written by Daniel Knauf (HBO’s “Carnivale”), the upscale vampire drama is set in the 19th century, with Golden Globe winner Rhys Meyers posing as American entrepreneur Alexander Grayson, who claims that he wants to bring modern science to Victorian society.
He promotes the new technology of electricity which promises to brighten the night — useful for someone who avoids the sun.
Grayson’s scientific bent conceals a darker purpose — this Dracula hopes to exact revenge on the people who ruined his life centuries earlier. Only one thing can postpone the execution of his plan: an obsession with Mina Murray (Jessica De Gouw), a young woman he meets at a party in his swanky London home. Murray is a dead ringer for Grayson’s late wife.
“Dracula” is currently in production in Budapest.
The 10-part series is going for Victorian opulence in its set design by Rob Harris and costuming by Emmy winner Annie Symons.
And the cast is not the usual collection of high-profile LA actors tediously careening from one series to another.
There Nonso Anozie from “Game of Thrones,” De Gouw (“Arrow”) and Katie McGrath of “Merlin” as Mina’s best friend, Lucy Westenra. Their relationship is affected in some dramatic way by the arrival of Grayson in London.
British actor Oliver Jackson-Cohen from the popular PBS series “Mr. Selfridge” plays Jonathan Harker, a craven, social-climbing journalist desperate to win the love and devotion of Murray.
Attracted to Grayson’s business acumen, he accepts a job as his attaché.
Thomas Kretschmann (”King Kong”) plays vampire hunter Van Helsing.
“Dracula” premieres October 25 on NBC.