“Nicholas Hoult stars as Thomas Hutter in Nosferatu (Picture: Courtesy of Focus Features) When you think of Hollywood stars, you think glitz and glam, not wading through rats. But that’s exactly what one actor had to do in his new film. British actor Nicholas Hoult has opened up about his time filming the gothic horror”, — write: metro.co.uk
Nicholas Hoult stars as Thomas Hutter in Nosferatu (Picture: Courtesy of Focus Features) When you think of Hollywood stars, you think glitz and glam, not wading through rats. But that’s exactly what one actor had to do in his new film.
British actor Nicholas Hoult has opened up about his time filming the gothic horror Nosferatu, a remake of the 1992 film of the same name, revealing one grotesque scene saw him wade through some 5,000 rats.
Nicholas, 35, who stars as the esteemed estate agent Thomas Hutter in the film based on Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, is no stranger to supernatural films, having found fame with the apocalyptic film Warm Bodies and, more recently, Renfield.
And while he’s had his fair share of fake blood moments, he’s never had to be in such close proximity to so many rats.
Sitting down on The Graham Norton Show last week, the star joked that the film had a ‘big rat budget’. He added: ‘Some of them were trained as well.’
‘I was like, “You couldn’t have trained all of them.” There were certain pockets of them that were trained,’ he clarified, adding: ‘And they were incontinent rats, so it was kinda stinky.’
The actor recalled one of his more grotesque scenes (Picture: Aidan Monaghan) Host Graham then joked: ‘They’re not incontinent, they just don’t care. Why would they care? “Oh, I’ll hold it.”‘
It prompted Nicholas to add: ‘I heard someone else say they were incontinent, it sounded smart. You’re right, they’re just rats. They just pee and poo anywhere. Luckily, I just had to wade through them.’
The film, which is set to be released on New Years Day and also stars Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin and Willem Dafoe, was directed by Robert Eggers and has already received a 93% rating on Rotton Tomatoes.
Discussing other set secrets, Nicholas said the film’s director had a strange request for the cast, discouraging them from moving their eyebrows.
Nicholas and Lily play onscreen husband and wife in the film (Picture: Aidan Monaghan) ‘There’s not really too many laughs in Nosferatu, I would say. It’s gothic horror, and Robert Eggers is such a master of creating worlds and tension,’ the actor explained.
‘For him, it was about honesty and authenticity, but also he would give us lots of movies to watch performance-wise. Lots of Soviet cinema, [Ingmar] Bergmann movies. He hates when actors move their eyebrows.’
Robert, 41, is known for his work on Hansel & Gretel, The Northman and The Witch, with one critic, Frank Wilkins, writing on Rotten Tomatoes that the director ‘breathes visceral life into this gothic tale of obsession, pain, and terror, making it a deeply human and refreshingly modern masterpiece.’
Nicholas is already receiving high praise for the film (Picture: Eric Charbonneau/Focus Features via Getty Images) Leo Brady adds: ‘Nosferatu is a cinematic triumph. It’s a fully realised work from a director confident in every choice he makes.’
‘A painstakingly crafted dark fairy-tale and psychosexual symphony of orgasmic breaths, howling winds and sweaty longing for flesh, full of exciting performances and deliciously macabre imagery. A feast for the senses,’ Katherine McLaughlin said.
Nicholas and his Swedish co-star, Bill, 34, also gained praise in early reviews.
Anthony Gaglilard describes Bill’s portrayal of Count Orlok as: ‘immaculate and deliver chilling, bloodthirsty’ performances.’ While Michael Medved said: ‘Nicholas Hoult battling Bill Skarsgård’s over-the-top monster in a visually haunting, unsettling experience that revels in the dark side.’
Nosferatu hits cinemas on January 1, 2025.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Arrow MORE: 18 Christmas horror movies that are so wrong they’re right and how to watch
Arrow MORE: Nicholas Hoult makes red carpet debut with girlfriend after 7 years together
Arrow MORE: Horror fans declare ‘all is right in the world’ as iconic 90s star returns for sequel
