A fresh trailer for Werwulf has arrived from Focus Features, and it suggests Robert Eggers is preparing another gothic Christmas experience for his audience. Directed by Eggers, whose credits include The Witch, The Lighthouse and Nosferatu, the film centers on Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a man who transforms into a monstrous creature. His wife is played by Lily-Rose Depp, and Willem Dafoe takes on the role of a knight assigned to clear the countryside of wolves. The medieval horror is set in 13th-century England and comes with period-appropriate dialogue.
The trailer opens with Dafoe’s character declaring, “Every wolf shall die!” Then Depp’s character pleads for help to save her husband from his curse. “My husband… he is a good man,” she says. “For the love, I bear him.” She continues, “Please, make him safe from his cursedness.”
As the footage comes to an end, Taylor-Johnson is shown trembling while gazing upward, with his change into a wolf seeming about to begin.
The Trio Reunites After Nosferatu
The trio of Taylor-Johnson, Depp and Dafoe is coming back together for Werwulf, following their shared work on Eggers’ vampire-themed Nosferatu, which came out on Christmas Day in 2024. That earlier film earned $180 million in total box office receipts and garnered four Oscar nods in technical categories.
The first footage from Werwulf was shown during Universal’s presentation at CinemaCon in April, where the film was billed as Eggers’ “most terrifying motion picture yet.” Eggers also co-wrote the film with Sjón, whom he worked with for 2022’s The Northman.
The Creative Team Behind the Film
The production team is led by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, with Garrett Bird and Sjón also serving as producers. Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus and Bernard Bellew round out the group as executive producers.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Eggers |
| Lead Actor | Aaron Taylor-Johnson |
| Lead Actress | Lily-Rose Depp |
| Knight | Willem Dafoe |
| Co-writer | Sjón |
| Producer | Tim Bevan |
| Producer | Eric Fellner |
| Producer | Garrett Bird |
What the Trailer Actually Shows
The trailer shows Taylor-Johnson’s transformation as the central visual hook. The footage of him shaking and looking toward the sky suggests the change is about to happen. Depp’s plea adds emotional weight to the setup, and Dafoe’s declaration sets the stakes for the knight’s mission.
The marketing material draws on language appropriate to its time, matching the story’s 13th-century setting. It seems the film is going for a particular style of medieval fright, featuring wolves, curses and a knight on a mission.
Why Fans Should Care
Eggers has built a reputation for unsettling horror films, and Werwulf looks like it fits right into that wheelhouse. The combination of Taylor-Johnson’s physical transformation, Depp’s emotional performance and Dafoe’s presence as a knight tasked with ridding the countryside of wolves is a strong draw.
The on-screen rapport among the three leads is a definite plus, given that they have already appeared together in two of Eggers’ pictures.
The Christmas Release Date
Werwulf hits theaters Christmas Day.
The trailer functions as a teaser rather than a complete reveal, offering just enough to sell the film while leaving numerous questions hanging in the air. Viewers are left wondering how far along Taylor-Johnson’s character has come in his change, what sets off that transformation, and how the knight intends to clear the countryside of wolves.
The answers to those questions will probably come as the film nears its release. Until then, the trailer confirms that Eggers has another horror project in development, and it appears it could be among his most frightening yet.
The trailer is available to watch below.
See the video the story is built around at The Hollywood Reporter.
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