TheThree BoardsandNitramactor is unrecognizable after four hours in make-up.
His already tall frame augmented by platform shoes, he towers over Besson, the cast and the crew.
Above is a first behind-the-scenes look at the actor as the blood-smeared Count.
L-R: Zoe Bleu, Matilda de Angelis, Caleb Landry Jones and Christoph WaltzGetty Images/Courtesy
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Deadline is not invited to sit in on filming.
On my first films I was far from the actors.
I was scared of them.
I was too young.
Bit by bit I got closer and closer.
The film that changed everything for me wasAtlantis… which only had fish.
Its not Dracula, my fascination is Caleb, says Besson, laughing.
We were just chatting about other roles that could work for him.
I said, Youd be great as Dracula.
Then, I thought, You know what Im just going to write it.
Its something I havent seen since Gary Oldman, says Besson, recalling his Oscar-winning collaborator onLeonandThe Fifth Element.
I love her and shes an amazing actress.
Shed come to me with stuff, and I wouldnt like it.
Its a totally romantic approach, Besson says of his adaptation.
Theres a romantic side in Bram Stokers book that hasnt been explored that much.
Its a love story about a man who waits for 400 years for the reincarnation of his wife.
Hes trying to capture Dracula, but will he succeed?
says Besson of Waltzs character.
Weve seen that a lot.
I wanted to break with that.
For at least two decades Besson was considered one of Europes most in-demand and visionary filmmakers.
Successful studio movies followed with the likes ofThe Fifth ElementandLucy.
Besson began dating actress Maiwenn when he was 32 and she was 15.
They married in 1992 when Le Besco, 16, was pregnant with their daughter.
The filmmaker has been married to his fourth wife, EuropaCorp producer Virginie Besson-Silla, since 2004.
They have three children.
She is producer on Dracula: A Love Tale, with Bessons LBP.
Films are like children.
I watched it on TV not long ago.
I said to myself, I was mad… On set
Padding about theDracula: A Love Tale set, Besson has a quietly focused air.
There are further sets featuring Belle Epoque Paris interiors.
Besson and Tissandier have been having fun with some of the set details.
Its not a question of whether its American or French, its all about being demanding, he adds.
Ive been watching a lot of Chinese films.
Theyre similarly demanding in terms of the sets and costumes.
They make these monster productions but the storytelling is very different.
Besson continues to have a strong following in China, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He said, Ive seen all your films.
Unseasonably rainy weather nearly scuppered these plans.
They do the same thing with Formula One…
It was horrible, he says.
Working with the famous equestrian showman Mario Lauraschi, he had the horses transported from France to Finland.
