Robert Eggers’ historical horror film “Werwulf” arrives in theaters on Christmas Day 2026, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a man afflicted with lycanthropy and Willem Dafoe as a knight leading a wolf extermination campaign in 13th-century England.
Director Robert Eggers is returning to the holiday box office with his blood-soaked historical feature “Werwulf,” which opens in theaters on Christmas Day. The film arrives following the Christmas Day release of Eggers’ “Nosferatu,” which served as a big hit and the filmmaker’s highest-grossing movie to date. Focus Features is distributing the project, having previously collaborated with Eggers on both “Nosferatu” and “The Northman.”
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Stars in 13th-Century England
Set around 1300, the story follows a man afflicted with lycanthropy who is tasked by a hunter to accompany him on a crusade to rid the area of wolves. Taylor-Johnson’s character is joined by Lily-Rose Depp as his wife, and Willem Dafoe portrays a knight tasked with ridding the countryside of wolves. The entire dialogue is spoken in a slightly modified version of Middle English, paired with a visual presentation where the color is nearly sapped out of the final image.
Robert Eggers Werwulf Christmas 2026 ReleaseRenowned for his meticulous approach to historical authenticity and horror, director Robert Eggers has announced his latest project, "Werwulf," a film that promises to delve into the mythical and terrifying world of werewolves. Set… pic.twitter.com/cyD4jvWDZV
Historical Roots and Interactive Promotion
Eggers has maintained a long-standing interest in werewolves ever since reading historical accounts during his high school years. The director noted that individuals historically committed acts so extreme and taboo that observers concluded they could not possibly be human and must be werewolves. Setting the narrative around 1300 in England was deemed necessary because a lack of wolves in the subsequent 200 years would have prevented a film deeply rooted in werewolf lore, resulting in a world that feels primitive, visceral, primal, dark, and brutal.
Ahead of the theatrical debut, Focus Features released a new trailer along with an alternate reality game challenging fans to solve a mystery over three full moons as the movie heads toward its release. Furthermore, The Hollywood Reporter noted that Focus Features won a bidding war to finance Eggers’ next project, a new movie adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet.