"Hobbit" star Luke Evans on biting into "Dracula Untold" role
Dracula is rising once again for a new film.
The story of how the famed bloodsucker first became a vampire is being revealed in "Dracula Untold," just in time for the Halloween season.
The new flick comes from Universal -- the same studio behind many monster movie classics, including 1931's "Frankenstein," 1932's "The Mummy" and 1933's "The Invisible Man." The studio also produced the original "Dracula" from 1931, which starred Bela Lugosi in the title role and was based on Bram Stoker's influential 1897 novel.
Part of Universal's new monster movie reboot continuity (which will also include the 2016 "Mummy" remake), "Dracula Untold" presents the vampire's origin story in a new light from the source material.
Stoker originally based his Dracula character on the real-life 15th century Eastern European ruler Vlad III, who in the new film fights to protect his citizens, and their children, from Ottoman military leader Mehmed (Dominic Cooper). Eventually, Vlad is forced to make a deal with the Master Vampire ("Game of Thrones" star Charles Dance) for the greater good of his people, or so he thinks.
"Fast & Furious 6" star Luke Evans, who will next be seen in the upcoming "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" as well as a remake of "The Crow," steps into the title role as Vlad -- in one of the most sympathetic incarnations of Dracula ever to grace the big screen.
Much of the action-heavy "Dracula Untold" takes place on the battlefield, as Vlad goes up against and defeats entire armies thanks to his new vampire powers.
For Evans, working on Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" trilogy certainly didn't hurt with his latest role.
"[The 'Hobbit' films] had a massive helping hand in knowing how to wield a sword and use working armor in a period costume," Evans said in a recent interview with CBS News.
The 35-year-old Welsh actor dons several war suits in the film, including an ensemble reminiscent of a red battle costume Gary Oldman wore in Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 take on the legend -- "Bram Stoker's Dracula."
Evans admits that the heavy outfits presented a challenge when trying to play out scenes on the film's Northern Ireland sets.
"[The costumes are] very difficult to work in doing the things I had to do in the film. They don't move. They're not flexible. But they look fantastic," Evans revealed.
Despite the tight wardrobe, the actor said he would definitely be on board for a possible sequel.
"Hopefully, we shall see if this is a success and if people love it and want to see Dracula again then yeah, watch this space," Evans said.
Watch video above to hear more from Evans, and to see his co-star Sarah Gadon ("The Amazing Spider-Man 2") discuss what it was like playing Vlad's sympathetic wife -- who finds herself in a tough spot when her husband starts to become a member of the undead.
"Dracula Untold" opens in regular and IMAX theaters on Friday.
