Werwulf

Werwulf is an upcoming period gothic horror film directed by Robert Eggers, who co-wrote the script with Sjón. The film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson.

Werwulf is scheduled to be released in the United States by Focus Features on December 25, 2026.

In 13th-century England, a mysterious creature stalks a foggy countryside as local folklore becomes a terrifying reality for the villagers.¹

• Aaron Taylor-Johnson
• Lily-Rose Depp
• Willem Dafoe
• Ralph Ineson
• Jack Morris
• Bodhi Rae Breathnach
• Jan Bijvoet
• Ritchi Edwards

In January 2025, it was announced that a horror film written and directed by Robert Eggers titled Werwulf was in development with Focus Features attached to produce and finance the film, which was co-written by Sjón, who had previously worked with Eggers in The Northman (2022). The film would be set in 13th-century England, and would feature Middle English.² Eggers went on to say that Werwulf was the darkest script he had ever written.³

In July 2025, Aaron Taylor-Johnson joined the cast as the title character, with Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson in talks to join. Working Title Films, along with its producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, would also join the project.⁴⁵⁶ Later, amidst shooting, Jan Bijvoet, Jack Morris and Ritchi Edwards were revealed to have been quietly cast.⁷⁸⁹¹⁰ In January 2026, Bodhi Rae Breathnach joined the cast.¹¹

In July 2025, a casting call announced that shooting for Werwulf would begin in Elstree in September.¹² In September 2025, Taylor-Johnson told Esquire that production would officially start on September 8.¹³ On October 22, 2025, Screen Daily reported that principal photography was underway at Sky Studios Elstree, England.¹⁴ In late November, filming occurred at Bourne Wood in Surrey.¹⁵¹⁶¹⁷ Jarin Blaschke serves as the cinematographer, after previously working with Eggers on his previous films.¹⁸¹⁹

Dafoe said that filming would also occur in Wales.²⁰ Filming was expected near Sharp Tor on Dartmoor in autumn 2025, with a small set constructed between Widecombe and Postbridge. The site was used to capture only a minute of footage.²¹²² In November, Taylor-Johnson was seen on set in Dartmoor.²³ Production took place in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire in early December.²⁴ In January 2026, Blaschke and Ineson revealed on their respective social media accounts that filming wrapped.²⁵

Werwulf is scheduled to be released in the United States by Focus Features on December 25, 2026.²

In April 2026, the first footage from the film was unveiled during the Universal and Focus Features presentation at CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas.²⁶