9th April 2023 – (Los Angeles) Nicolas Cage is taking on the iconic role of Count Dracula in the upcoming comedy-horror film “Renfield,” directed by Chris McKay. A recent trailer for the film has revealed Cage’s stunning transformation into the legendary vampire, with the actor going all in for the role, including having custom dentures made with the help of 3D printing technology.
In “Renfield,” Cage plays the titular character’s boss, Dracula, while Nicholas Hoult stars as Renfield, Dracula’s loyal and put-upon servant who finds a new lease of life after falling in love with a traffic cop. Renfield decides to stand up to his boss, hoping to break free from his life of servitude. The film is set to hit cinemas on 14th April.
The makeup department, led by renowned artist Christien Tinsley, spared no effort in ensuring that Cage’s transformation into Dracula was as authentic as possible. Tinsley revealed in a recent interview with Variety that McKay wanted every one of Dracula’s teeth to be pointed, not just the canines. This presented a unique challenge for the makeup team, as they needed to create dentures that could be adjusted easily once Cage was on set.
To achieve this, Tinsley and his team turned to 3D printing, a first for him in his long career. “This was the first film that I know of where we used 3D printing to do all the dentures,” Tinsley explained. “We jumped in headfirst with 3D printing. We would scan Nic’s teeth and digitally sculpt them.”
The use of 3D printing allowed for quick and efficient production of different designs for the teeth, with dozens of pairs being ready in just a few minutes. The speed of the process also meant that the dentures could be made super thin, ensuring that they did not impede Cage’s speech and allowed him to emote and enunciate properly, as he desired for the role.
In addition to the 3D printed dentures, Cage also underwent some extreme-sounding dentistry of his own. Tinsley revealed that Cage’s teeth were shaved down to ensure a perfect fit for the dentures, while also allowing him full freedom of speech. Cage’s commitment to the role extended beyond his teeth, as he spent over three hours in the makeup chair every day for the application of a full head of prosthetics, including the torso, arms, hands, and nails.
The effort put into Cage’s transformation into Dracula has already garnered attention, with fans eagerly anticipating his portrayal of the iconic character. The trailer for “Renfield” showcases Cage’s impressive performance, with his 3D printed fangs adding an extra layer of authenticity to his portrayal of the legendary vampire.
As the release date of “Renfield” draws near, excitement continues to build for Cage’s performance as Dracula. The use of 3D printing in the creation of his dentures showcases the innovative techniques used in modern filmmaking, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of special effects and prosthetics. Cage’s dedication to his craft and attention to detail in his transformation into Dracula is sure to make his performance in “Renfield” a standout moment for horror and comedy fans alike.