Argento’s DRACULA 3D gets some extra financial bite

Personally, I think Argento is finished as far as a director.  His contributions in the past are phenominal.  However, they are in the past.  If you remember back in May, there were some rumblings about Dario Argento directing a Dracula film in 3D titled…..Dracula 3D.  Well, some news came out today to prove to us Yanks that the production is still a go.  Read more for the production start date – which might affect a scheduled appearance.

From Variety:

MADRID — Powerful Spanish film-TV businessman Enrique Cerezo has taken a minority co-production stake in Italian horror maestro Dario Argento’s stereoscopic 3D adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”
An Italy-France-Spain co-production led by Roberto Di Girolamo and Gianni Paolucci at Rome-based shingle Multimedia Film Prods., “Dracula 3D” also teams French producer Sergio Gobbi’s Les Films de l’Astre.

The English-language pic, set to go into production from February in Hungary, is budgeted at Euro10 million ($13.2 million), Cerezo told Daily Variety.

His Madrid-based shingle, Enrique Cerezo Prods., will bring to the table three Spanish thesps — two actresses and one actor — plus part of the tech crew and co-financing.

Argento’s project was announced to the international market at May’s Cannes film festival by Italian international sales agent-producer Filmexport Group.

“We’ve worked with Cerezo for more than 25 years in both film production and distribution,” Filmexport Group prexy Di Girolamo said. “I hope this collaboration will remain highly active with the same energy and enthusiasm.”

Filmexport Group has co-produced some of Cerezo’s standout Spanish pics such as Vicente Aranda’s 2001 meller “Mad Love,” toplining Pilar Lopez de Ayala, and Emilio Martinez Lazaro’s 2006 Spanish Civil War drama “13 Roses.”

Owner of Spain’s largest movie rights catalog, via company Video Mercury Films, Enrique Cerezo is now entering more selectively into feature film projects.

Cerezo is producing the $4 million pic “La montana rusa,” which marks helmer Martinez Lazaro’s return to contempo relationship comedy filmmaking.

“Montana” starts lensing in Madrid Feb. 28, toplining Ernesto Alterio, Alberto San Juan and Veronica Sanchez.

Enrique Cerezo’s upcoming theatrical release, Jesus Bonilla’s “La Daga de Rasputin,” a co-production with broadcaster Telecinco, bows Jan. 14 in Spain, handled by Warner Bros.

In the article, it mentions that they will start filming this flick on February 28th.  I hope Dario only shoots this thing for less than a month and will be willing to still attend HorrorHound Weekend on March 25-27.  Otherwise, there will be some very unhappy horror fans roaming the halls of the Marriott.