тιтle: Dracula Untold 2 (2025)

Genre: Horror, Action, Fantasy

Release Date: October 2025

Tagline: “The darkness has awakened. No one is safe.”

Plot Summary:

Dracula Untold 2 picks up years after the events of the first film, where Vlad Tepes, now fully entrenched in his vampiric curse, struggles to maintain control of his humanity while protecting his kingdom from supernatural and human threats alike. The first film’s ending set the stage for a powerful, tragic ruler who transformed into the legendary vampire, but the consequences of his immortality have only begun to unfold.

Vlad’s reign as Dracula, though shrouded in mystery and fear, begins to show signs of internal collapse. The once-vibrant kingdom of Wallachia is being torn apart by growing unrest, while Vlad grapples with the existential weight of his curse. He’s caught between two worlds: one that sees him as a monster, the other, a king who failed to protect his people. As time pᴀsses, Vlad’s grip on the throne weakens and whispers of rebellion spread through the lands.

The Dark Curse Awakened:
The vampire curse, bound to the ancient Blood of the Dragon ritual, has unpredictable consequences. When Vlad encounters an ancient force — an even older, darker vampire deity known as Khosrul — he learns that the curse is not just a source of power but a key to unlocking an impending cataclysm. Khosrul’s followers, an order of occultists known as the Bloodbound, seek to manipulate Vlad to release an apocalyptic power that could obliterate the world.

Vlad must navigate a world of bloodthirsty enemies, ancient prophecies, and a new generation of vampires who view him not as their ruler, but as a figure of fear and legend. As the world teeters on the edge of chaos, the lines between good and evil blur for Vlad, and he must face the greatest battle of his immortal life.

Characters:

Vlad Tepes / Dracula (played by Luke Evans)
Still burdened by the transformation that made him Dracula, Vlad’s eternal existence now feels like a curse more than a gift. He is determined to maintain control over his darker impulses and protect the remnants of his human soul. However, the discovery of Khosrul and the Bloodbound forces him to confront the full scope of his powers — and the horrific prophecy that could bring an end to humanity.
Mina Harker (played by Sarah Gadon)
Vlad’s love and anchor to humanity, Mina now finds herself torn between her loyalty to Vlad and the creeping suspicion that his curse may be too dangerous to bear. Her love for Vlad is tested as she faces the harsh reality of what he has become, but she refuses to abandon him, even if it means confronting the monster he has become.
Khosrul (played by Javier Bardem)
The ancient vampire deity, older and more powerful than Vlad, Khosrul seeks to unlock the true potential of the Blood of the Dragon to usher in a world of darkness. His ultimate goal is not only to control Vlad but to use him as a vessel to bring forth an army of the unᴅᴇᴀᴅ that will wipe out all humanity and reshape the world in his image.
Lucian (played by Thomas Kretschmann)
Once a loyal ally, Lucian has become a feared vampire general who serves Khosrul’s followers. As one of the most powerful vampires in the world, Lucian poses a grave threat to Vlad, and their relationship becomes one of personal betrayal and destruction. He believes the old ways — where vampires rule over humans — are the only way to ensure their survival.
Radu Tepes (played by Ben Barnes)
Vlad’s brother, who once sided with him in battle, has become a cold and calculating vampire, more interested in power than family. Now, a member of the Bloodbound, he seeks to manipulate the situation for his own gain, possibly betraying Vlad for his own desires to claim the throne.
Father Ioan (played by Michael Shannon)
A mysterious monk with knowledge of the ancient vampire curses, Father Ioan is Vlad’s reluctant ally. He provides cryptic guidance, urging Vlad to destroy Khosrul before the dark deity’s influence spreads beyond control. But Father Ioan has his own dark secrets, and his allegiance may not be what it seems.

Themes:

Corruption of Power: The central theme of Dracula Untold 2 is the corrupting influence of power, and the eternal struggle between light and dark within Vlad. As he becomes more entangled with the blood curse, his humanity continues to erode, forcing him to confront whether he is still capable of redemption.
Betrayal and Loyalty: Relationships in the film are fraught with betrayal. Family bonds are tested, especially between Vlad and his brother, Radu. The line between friend and foe is ever-shifting as alliances are formed and shattered.
Fate vs. Free Will: The film explores the tension between destiny and choice. Can Vlad escape the fate that has been foretold for him, or will he be consumed by the curse that defines his existence? The film asks whether anyone can truly escape their destiny or if they are doomed to fulfill it.

Action Sequences:

The Rise of the Bloodbound:
In the film’s opening, Vlad must defend Wallachia against an onslaught of Khosrul’s followers — a brutal battle where Vlad faces a horde of vampire warriors in a climactic sequence involving fire, dark magic, and intense hand-to-hand combat. The fight’s visuals will be visceral, with Vlad using his vampiric powers in a terrifying display of strength.
The Vampire Temple:
Vlad journeys to an ancient vampire temple, a hidden stronghold of the Bloodbound, where he faces Khosrul’s dark acolytes. In this sequence, Vlad will encounter powerful occult traps and combat with supercharged vampire ᴀssᴀssins. The temple’s dark, labyrinthine design adds an element of horror to the high-stakes action.
The Final Battle with Khosrul:
The climactic battle is set against a backdrop of a crumbling, apocalyptic city, as Vlad faces Khosrul in a showdown that tests the limits of his vampiric abilities. Khosrul’s immense power threatens to destroy everything Vlad holds dear, but Vlad’s greatest challenge will be defeating Khosrul without losing himself to the curse forever.

Visual Style:

The film will continue the dark, gothic aesthetic established in the first Dracula Untold, with a focus on gritty, atmospheric visuals. Expect ominous lighting, fog-covered battlefields, and shadowy interiors. Vampires and their powers will be portrayed in a chilling, brutal manner, with fast-paced, visceral combat sequences blending supernatural abilities with ancient weapons. The Bloodbound will have a distinct visual style, with intricate occult tattoos and blood-red markings that glow during their rituals.

Soundtrack:

A mixture of orchestral arrangements and dark, haunting melodies will accompany the action, composed by Ramin Djawadi (of Game of Thrones fame). The soundtrack will emphasize the tragic elements of Vlad’s journey, using strings and brᴀss to heighten the emotional weight of the film, while the darker sequences will feature heavier, more foreboding music.

Post-Credit Scene:

The film’s post-credit sequence introduces a new vampire antagonist: Astaroth, an ancient demon lord who has come to Earth after sensing the destabilizing power of Khosrul’s awakening. This sets up the potential for a larger supernatural conflict in future films, with Dracula caught in the middle of a war between vampires, demons, and humanity.

Director:
Alexandre Aja (director of High Tension and The Hills Have Eyes) – Known for his ability to blend horror with action and dark fantasy.

Box Office Potential:
With the success of the original Dracula Untold, Dracula Untold 2 is set to appeal to both horror fans and action audiences, expanding the mythology of Dracula in new, exciting ways. The darker tone and more personal storylines should attract a global audience, especially in the lead-up to Halloween.

Overall:
Dracula Untold 2 is set to be a thrilling, dark, and action-packed continuation of the Dracula saga, exploring the inner turmoil of Vlad Tepes while introducing terrifying new forces that threaten the entire world. The film will expand upon the world of Dracula while introducing fresh mythology, new characters, and explosive battles that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.