There have been hundreds of film and television adaptations even centred on Dracula or including the evil vampire in some way. Dracula on BBC is the latest version starring Claes Bang as the villain himself. However, what feature of the classic novel was writer Steven Moffat adamant about not featuring in the show?
What does writer Steven Moffat hate about Bram Stoker’s Dracula?
Sherlock Holmes writers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss once again teamed up to recreate another classic story in the shape of Dracula.
The first episode was aired last night on New Year’s Day (January 1, 2020) and the second one will be airing shortly.
There are many similarities between Bram Stoker’s original novel and this new adaptation with a few unexpected twists thrown in.
But one feature of the book failed to impress writer Moffat.
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When asked about deciding what details they wanted to keep from the book at the show’s premiere, he said: “I think it’s what you like about it.
“I mean, you’re going for the things you like, the things that excite you.
“But you know, Dracula is an odd one because the book is not the only source text by any means, the play based on the book is what leads to the movie.
“Our notion of Dracula is formed actually slightly post the book with the tall, handsome Dracula with the cape.”
He continued: “The least successful facial hair in fictional history is Dracula’s moustache.
“He has a moustache in the book and nobody has ever given a f*** about the moustache.
“James Bond has a scar on his face in the Ian Fleming books – not even on the book jackets does he have a scar!
“As a creator, it doesn’t matter what you say, Dracula does not have a moustache – it would have been rubbish wouldn’t it?”
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Another more memorable change from the book is the series is littered with humour, unlike the dark horrific novel.
Also talking at the show’s premiere about the added comedy, Moffat said: “If the scene isn’t anything else, it should be funny.
“It is a fantastic way of burying plot information in a joke, because people don’t notice information if they are told in joke form.
“But also, you really set people up for a sucker punch if you make them laugh fondly and then chop someone’s head off.”
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Following the killing of Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan) in the first episode, his fiancé Mina (Lujza Richter) and Sister Agatha (Dolly Wells) are determined to put an end to the vampire for good.
The second episode is entitled Blood Vessel and will be mark the mini-series’ midway point.
The synopsis for the second instalment reads: “Russian ship sets sail for Whitby. Its passengers include one Count Dracula.”
Dracula continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One.
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