Skip to main content

Netflix embraces Castlevania’s retro roots in series’ debut trailer

Castlevania | Teaser: Vengeance | Netflix
Netflix has debuted the first trailer for its upcoming animated series based on the original Castlevania games from the late ’80s and it hasn’t shunned that origin. Beginning with a mock-up of what Netflix might have looked like if it was ‘playable’ on a Nintendo Entertainment System, it soon transitions into some clips from the show, culminating in a silhouette of the classic castle setting.

This two-season series will be based on Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse and introduces the protagonist at the end of the trailer with the statement, “I’m the man who killed Dracula.” The first season is set to debut this July and will have just four 30-minute episodes.

Recommended Videos

However, if this trailer is anything to go by, each episode will be packed with action. The series has been described as ultra-violent by its creators and this trailer certainly backs that up. Several characters are given bloody wounds within a brief moment and we get a look at some of the characters who will feature in the show — though none are named outright.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

For those unfamiliar with the Castlevania series, while Dracula’s Curse was the third and final Castlevania game on the NES, it is actually a prequel to the original game and features an ancestor of main series protagonist, Simon Belmont, called Trevor Belmont. It was also the first game to introduce Alucard, Dracula’s son, though there’s no guarantee he will feature in this series.

Drawing from contemporary adaptations like Game of Thrones, Akira and Ghost in the Shell, Castlevania was written by comic artist and author Warren Ellis, who previously wrote the script for the canceled Dracula’s Curse movie. He’s joined by producer Ari Shankar, who previously created the dark Power Rangers short from a few years back.

Castlevania will debut on Netflix on July 7 with all four episodes available to watch immediately.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
3 action movies on Netflix you need to watch in December 2024
Spartan soldiers wield their weapons in 300.

Despite it being the season of giving, Netflix has a surprising amount of action content queued up in December. The return of Squid Game, Netflix's most popular TV show, returns for a second season that will be even more violent and bloodier than the first. Black Doves, an entertaining spy thriller starring Keira Knightley, is also on the streamer this month.

While those two offerings are TV shows, Netflix does not skimp on action movies. The service has an entire genre dedicated to action, with multiple subgenres highlighting blockbusters, indies, and more. This month, consider streaming these three action movies, including a live-action film based on popular action figures, a brutal war story, and a survival thriller.

Read more
5 underrated movies on Netflix you need to watch in December 2024
A woman and man embrace by touching heads in The Last Letter From Your Lover.

It's the final month of 2024, and Netflix is not holding back. The streamer will release several movies and TV shows that will undoubtedly wind up on the streamer's most popular lists. On December 26, Squid Game, Netflix's most-watched show, returns for its deadly second season. Plus, Taron Egerton will play a TSA agent out to save his airport from a terrorist in a new Netflix action movie, Carry-On.

Netflix's biggest strength is its vault. If Squid Game or Carry-On are of no interest to you, then keep searching the service for something that fits your needs. If you feel like taking a chance, try one of these underrated movies. Our picks include an entertaining thriller, a Fast & Furious sequel, and a holiday romance.

Read more
This 2024 tech thriller was ignored earlier this year. Here’s why you should stream it on Netflix
A family of four kneel down and huddle up with one another.

If you're looking for a great horror movie, you might be aware that there are plenty on Netflix. The streaming service is filled with movies of all kinds, but 2024's Afraid might be one worth checking out if you're unsure of what to choose.

The film follows a family who are selected by the CIA to test a new super-advanced smart home technology. As the technology slowly takes over their lives, though, they begin to realize that it might not be as innocent as they suspected. Here are four reasons why it's worth checking out.

Read more