Eggers, Dafoe Team for "Christmas Carol" Reimagining

Here's an intriguing director-studio development: Robert Eggers, acclaimed filmmaker behind The Witch and Nosferatu, is under consideration to direct Warner Bros.' A Christmas Carol remake – with Willem Dafoe as his top choice for Ebenezer Scrooge.

Variety reports that while no formal commitments exist yet (neither from Eggers nor Dafoe), the studio sees Eggers as a strong contender, and the director himself has expressed interest in casting his frequent collaborator. Currently in early development, this project would require significant time before moving into production.

Eggers is currently prioritizing Werwulf – a historical horror film for Focus Features which he's writing and directing. Logically, A Christmas Carol would follow this project, potentially entering production as Eggers completes his 13th-century horror tale. However, Hollywood schedules remain unpredictable.

Having described Werwulf as "by far the darkest thing" he's written, Eggers' potential take on A Christmas Carol sparks curiosity. Would he maintain his signature bleak aesthetic, or introduce rare levity? Given his filmography, one might anticipate an especially haunting interpretation of Dickens' classic. And that prospect is thrilling.

Co-written with Sjón (their third collaboration following The Northman and the upcoming Labyrinth sequel), Werwulf targets a Christmas 2026 release. Should A Christmas Carol progress, a 2027 debut isn't implausible – meaning official announcements could arrive sooner than expected.