Robert Eggers just gave werewolf fans their most haunting look at Werwulf yet. The director’s upcoming horror film reveals its first theatrical poster alongside fresh details about the cast and creative vision behind the Christmas release.
Robert Eggers’ Werwulf unveils its eerie first poster
Focus Features has released the debut theatrical poster for Robert Eggers’ horror film Werwulf. The striking image captures Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s unnamed lead character undergoing a terrifying shift into a werewolf. Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe also star in the upcoming Christmas release.
The poster follows the film’s first trailer, which debuted roughly one month earlier. Notably, that preview kept the fully transformed beast hidden from audiences. As a result, the studio appears intent on saving the complete creature reveal for the theatrical experience.
Meanwhile, Dafoe takes on the role of a hunter dispatched to a village plagued by reports of a deadly predator. Additionally, Depp stars as the devoted wife of Taylor-Johnson’s tormented farmer. The story unfolds in 13th-century England, where a sinister creature terrorizes a fog-covered countryside.
Eggers explained his approach to the material in a recent interview with Empire. “Going back to the old folklore is a way in, because you’re going to find different stuff,” Eggers said. He added that the mythology of this film avoids familiar werewolf tropes like silver bullets or transformation by bite. Eggers also compared his creature approach to the original Alien, emphasizing mystery and shadow over full reveals.
In a separate interview with Esquire, Eggers described Taylor-Johnson’s role further. “He’s a man who is cursed and is trying to find salvation through love,” the director shared. He also noted that no characters have names in the film, aside from a dog. Eggers called Depp’s performance “truly transformative” and described her character as the “heart of the movie.” Depp plays a mother of several children and a farmer alongside Taylor-Johnson’s haunted protagonist. Werwulf opens exclusively in theaters this Christmas.