🩸 Dracula: A Love Tale (2026)— Luc Besson’s Gothic Romance of Blood, Desire & Redemption | Cast, Plot, Release Date & Where to Watch

Luc Besson’s Dracula: A Love Tale reimagines Bram Stoker’s iconic vampire in a sweeping gothic romance starring Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz, and Zoë Bleu. Discover its story, cast, and global release schedule ahead of its North American debut on February 6, 2026.

🕯️ A Tale of Eternal Love and Cursed Immortality

In the shadowed corridors of gothic romance comes a haunting new reimagining — Dracula: A Love Tale. Written and directed by Luc Besson, this 2025 English-language French romantic fantasy film breathes new life (and death) into Bram Stoker’s timeless legend.

Premiering in France on July 30, 2025, and set for its North American release on February 6, 2026, Dracula: A Love Tale isn’t just another vampire movie — it’s a tragic meditation on love, faith, and eternal damnation.

“There are loves that defy time… and damn the soul that dares to hold on.”

🩶 Plot: The Curse of Love Beyond Death

The story begins in the 15th century — a noble prince loses his beloved wife and, in despair, turns his back on God. Consumed by grief and vengeance, he embraces the darkness, transforming into Dracula, a creature doomed to eternal thirst.

Centuries later, in 19th-century Paris, the immortal count encounters Mina Murray, a woman who mirrors his long-lost wife. This encounter reignites the embers of an undying love — but also resurrects the curse that chains his soul.

The film balances Luc Besson’s signature visual flair with an aching romantic melancholy. It’s not about monsters lurking in castles — but about the monsters we become when love refuses to die.

🎭 Cast & Characters

🧛‍♂️ Caleb Landry Jones as Dracula — A tortured soul torn between passion and damnation.

✝️ Christoph Waltz as The Priest — A man of faith who believes redemption is still possible for even the darkest sinner.

🌹 Zoë Bleu as Elisabeta / Mina Murray — The mirror of Dracula’s lost love, caught in a web of reincarnation and destiny.

💔 Matilda De Angelis as Maria

🕯 Ewens Abid as Jonathan Harker

🎩 David Shields as Henry Spencer

⚔️ Guillaume de Tonquédec as Dumont Every performance glows with gothic intensity, led by Jones’s magnetic portrayal of Dracula — both monstrous and heartbreakingly human.

🎬 Behind the Shadows: The Making of Dracula

Directed & Written by: Luc BessonProduced by: Virginie Besson-SillaCinematography: Colin WandersmanEditing: Lucas “Kub” FabianiMusic: Danny Elfman

With a production budget of €45 million, Besson’s Dracula marks one of France’s most ambitious international projects. The collaboration between EuropaCorp, TF1 Films Production, and SND delivers a film that’s both visually opulent and emotionally devastating.

Elfman’s gothic score intertwines choirs and melancholy strings, evoking echoes of Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow — a perfect companion to Besson’s romanticized nightmare.

🕸️ Release Schedule & Film Festivals

• France Release: July 30, 2025 (SND)

• European Distribution: August–December 2025

• Rome Film Festival (Grand Public Section): October 2025

• Sitges Film Festival (Official Competition): October 2025

• North America Release: February 6, 2026 (Vertical Entertainment)

At its French premiere, critics described it as “a gothic fever dream” and “Besson’s most emotional work since The Fifth Element.”

💰 Box Office & Early Reception

Despite its mid-summer release amid blockbuster competition, Dracula: A Love Tale grossed $16 million worldwide in its initial European run. Critics praised its lush cinematography, melancholic tone, and Caleb Landry Jones’ haunting performance.

“Besson turns blood into poetry, and horror into heartbreak.” — Le Monde Review

Fans eagerly await its North American debut, with early buzz predicting it could become 2026’s most talked-about gothic romance.

🦇 Themes: When Love Defies Death

Besson’s Dracula transcends horror — it’s about eternal longing and divine punishment, the clash of light and shadow within the human soul.

Through haunting visuals and Elfman’s operatic score, the film explores:

• 🖤 Love as redemption and damnation

• ⛓️ The burden of immortality

• 🕯 The eternal return of the lost beloved

In the end, Dracula’s greatest battle isn’t with hunters or crosses — but with his own heart.

🌹 Final Thoughts

With Dracula: A Love Tale, Luc Besson reclaims the gothic stage — weaving a story that’s both intimate and epic, romantic and horrifying. It’s not just a film; it’s a requiem for love that refuses to die.

“Love never dies. It only changes its thirst.”

Whether you’re drawn by Besson’s artistry, Danny Elfman’s haunting score, or Caleb Landry Jones’ mesmerizing performance, this film promises to redefine Dracula for a new generation.

🩸 FAQ — Dracula: A Love Tale (2025–2026)

Q1. When is Dracula: A Love Tale releasing in North America?

The film will be released in the United States and Canada on February 6, 2026, distributed by Vertical Entertainment.

Q2. Who plays Count Dracula in the movie?

The role of Dracula is portrayed by Caleb Landry Jones, known for his intense performances in Nitram and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Q3. Who directed Dracula: A Love Tale?

The film is written and directed by Luc Besson, the visionary filmmaker behind Léon: The Professional and Lucy.

Q4. What genre is the movie?

It’s a gothic romance and romantic fantasy, inspired by Bram Stoker’s original novel but with a more emotional, love-centered narrative.

Q5. Who composed the music?

The film features a haunting score by Danny Elfman, blending gothic orchestration with tragic romantic undertones.