Netflix Announces Castlevania Spin-Off Series
Netflix is raising the "stakes", as the streaming giant has just given the green light to a Castlevania spin-off. The bloody adaptation of Konami's game series of the same name first swooped into our lives in 2017. After just four short seasons, Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard said "fangs" for the memories and rounded off the story in style this year. Fans knew this was just the start of an expanded Castlevania universe, but now, we know what's coming next.
With nearly 30 games released over the years - and Dracula's ability to resurrect every 100 years - it means we've covered a LOT of lore since Castlevania arrived on the Famicon Disk System back in 1986. Ellis' Castlevania mainly told the story of 1989's Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, with the rugged Trevor Belmont picking up the crest of his shamed family. There are plenty of other famous Belmonts out there in Castlevania canon, and with the spin-off charting a new era, Richter Belmont is stepping up to the plate.
What is the Castlevania spin-off series?
Netflix's Geeked Week rounded off with the surprise reveal of the Castlevania spin-off series. The unnamed spin-off will focus on Richter Belmont and Maria Renard. For those who haven't played the games, Richter is the distant grandson of Sypha and Trevor, while Maria is another vampire hunter and distant relative of the Belmont clan. The pair are a dynamic duo in 1993's Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and later team up with Alucard in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
We're jumping into the future of the franchise, with the spin-off being set during the French Revolution of 1792, which is conveniently when Rondo of Blood was set. Replacing Warren Ellis, Clive Bradley is pulling triple-duty as writer, showrunner, and executive producer, while brothers Samuel and Adam Deats are directing. If you loved the style of Castlevania, you'll be pleased to hear Powerhouse Animation is once again animating.
When Netflix originally announced the series, it incorrectly tipped Richter as the son of Trevor and Sypha. Considering the OG takes place in the 15th century - and Richter is supposed to be their great-great-great grandson - the account quickly altered the description.
What is the Castlevania spin-off series release date?
Netflix hasn't given the Castlevania spin-off series a release date yet, and with no official title, we're not expecting it any time soon. The first series was a labour of love that spent a decade in development hell, but with Castlevania officially being announced in 2015 and debuting two years later, 2023 could be one to watch for the spin-off.
But what's next after this? In 2017, Castlevania Producer Adi Shankar told Inverse, "I want to do all of it. I want to keep telling stories because, ultimately, Castlevania is a universe; it’s a story about this family. It’s about generations of this dope [Belmont] family".
With multiple spin-offs potentially on the cards Shankar added, "Each generation has their own problems has their own little nuances, and they’re dealing with the realities of the time period that they’re living in".
It's interesting that Castlevania already adapted parts of Symphony of the Night for Alucard's story in the original series, while Richter and Maria's ties to Dracula's son mean he could be a recurring character in the spin-off. The showcase also featured Netflix execs saying they're "far from done” with Castlevania - teasing this might not be the only announcement on the horizon.
Images via Netflix | Konami
