Robert Eggers is turning from gothic horror to Shakespeare for his next project. Following the success of his 2024 hit Nosferatu and the recent wrap of his folk horror film Werwulf, the director will take on a new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
What we know so far
The Hollywood Reporter revealed in a September 2026 report that Eggers will once again work with Universal's specialty arm, the same label behind Nosferatu and the upcoming Werwulf. Eggers will direct and produce, though it is not yet clear who else is attached behind the scenes. Notably, the outlet reported the film will feature actors speaking in Elizabethan English straight from the original text rather than a modernized script, staying true to the play that follows two star crossed lovers from feuding Verona families whose secret romance ends in tragedy but ultimately mends the rift between their households.
Why he wanted a break from horror
Speaking at a post screening Q&A for Werwulf, Eggers explained the shift with a joke, saying he had been writing another horror film that got so dark he needed a break, landing instead on the idea of doing something about two teenagers ending their own lives. Given his track record, expect the adaptation to lean into a serious, gothic tone rather than a lighter take on the material.
Casting and timeline
No cast has been confirmed yet, though Eggers has a well established group of collaborators, including Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Lily-Rose Depp, all of whom appeared in Nosferatu and were cast again in Werwulf. The project remains in its earliest stages, with no release date set.