There's a new Dracula in town.
Danish actor Claes Bang has been cast as the iconic vampire in the BBC's upcoming adaptation of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic novel, coming from Sherlock creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss.
Bang, 51, has previously appeared in The Girl in the Spider's Web and the Danish TV series Borgen.
The mini series will consist of three feature-length episodes reinventing the world of Dracula in 1897 Transylvania.
Dracula will be "drawing his plans against Victorian London" in the show, a co-production between Netflix and BBC One, commissioned by the latter.
"I am thrilled to be taking on the role of Dracula, especially when the script is in the hands of the incredible talents of Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and the team responsible for Sherlock," Bang said in a release.
"I'm so excited that I get to dig in to this iconic and super-interesting character. Yes he's evil, but there's also so much more to him, he’s charismatic, intelligent, witty and sexy.
"I realise that there's a lot to live up to with all the amazing people that have played him over the years, but I feel so privileged, to be taking on this incredible character."
Hartswood Films and the writers said of Bang's casting: "It was one of those moments – who else could it be than Claes!
"He has it all. Brilliant, gorgeous, charismatic, lethal. Tall, dark and gruesome all at once. Hell has a new boss."
Dracula will be count Gatiss, Moffat, and Sue Vertue, who also worked on Sherlock, among its executive producers.
Filming is set to begin next year and the series is scheduled to premiere on BBC One in the UK and on Netflix in other countries.
Bang, who speak five languages, was recently seen in The Girl in the Spider's Web. He will appear along with Mick Jagger and Donald Sutherland in The Burnt Orange Heresy, a forthcoming Italian-American drama.
