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FIRST LOOK

First Look: Vampire John C. Reilly in Cirque du Freak

by Alex Billington
July 3, 2008
Source: Empire

The last time we mentioned Cirque du Freak was when I questioned whether Willem Dafoe had a creepy fascination with vampires. Dafoe had just been cast alongside of John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek, Patrick Fugit, Ken Watanabe, and Chris Kelly. The film is a rather twisted and fantastical tale about a 14-year-old boy who visits a traveling freak show and is drawn into the world of vampires, werewolves and bearded ladies, eventually giving up his own normal life to go on the road with the Cirque Du Freak. Apparently the story has a lot more to do with vampires, but I don't want to spoil any of it. Empire has revealed the first photo from the film featuring John C. Reilly as Larten Crepsley and newcomer Chris Kelly as Darren Shah.

It's unfortunately quite hard to see Reilly in this photo below. I wish we could get a closer look at his face, because he looks like an awesome vampire, but alas this is all we've got. Cirque du Freak sounds like one of the most unique and refreshing horror films in a while, which is why I'm so interested. Plus the cast is just phenomenal and I can't deny actors like John C. Reilly and Ken Watanabe.

John C. Reilly in Cirque du Freak

Cirque du Freak is directed by ex-producer Paul Weitz of About a Boy, In Good Company, and American Dreamz previously. The script was written by Brian Helgeland of Paul Greengrass' upcoming Green Zone as well as L.A. Confidential, Conspiracy Theory, Mystic River, and Man on Fire previously. The film is based on a series of novels of the same name written by Darren Shan. Universal hasn't set an official release date for this yet, but we can expect to see it sometime by the end of 2008.

Explore tags: First Look, Hype

Xerxex

Totally underrated actor amazing in Chicago, great in Gangs of New York maybe this will let people know that he is a great actor.
James

looks to adapted from the book, wonder if they are going to be doing all of the books?
Kail

This might be interesting, it's sorta got a modern day lost boys look to it. Let's hope it's as good as the original lost boys!
Josh Rowe

Lol Reilly is a spud head. It was cool seeing him in Gangs of New York though, compared to Walk Hard.
Ajax

I love the Cirque Du Freak books, and I'm excited to see this movie. But, I am not so sure about Reilly as Mr. Crepsley.
dac_fan

This looks like it could be great, to bad Tim Burton isn't doing this one.
shawn

I read the books, and like Reilly, but he looks nothing like how Shan described Larten
Kelly Carmer

I expected him to have way shorter hair......but I'm really really excited about the movie!!!!!!
BEE

Before seeing this photo, I did't think Reilly was suitable for this character----Mr Crepsley. But now I think he is great. >.< That dark-red clothes is beautiful too!!!! GREAT!
chelsea!

OMG I'm soo pumped, I can't wait for it! My fave books ever. And i totally agree with BEE, I was unsure about Reilly at first but he could pull through. I'm upset that i found out about it cuz I'm not gonna survive 4-5 months waiting for it. This is worse then waiting for Twilight to come out.
Emily

I spoke to Darren Shan at a book signing last year and he said they were going to release 4 films with 3 books to each one. The characters look lots different to how imagine- especially Mr Crepsleys hair! Did it actually say in the books that Darren was 14?
Josh

Its SHAN
zip510

it never said his age in the book and ugh i think reilly being latern is really gonna spoil the movie for me =[ and yer i wish tim burtun was doing it to
nathalie

is this movie also comming out in the theater in belgium ?? please tell me
lil-miz-dancey-pantz

Its a shame tim burton isnt doing this movie. I love his movies!! But John C. Reilly was not who I was excepting for Mr Crepsley! He just doesnt look right to me. Its his hair and weight. Short ginger hair and average weight. Like John C. McGinley from Scrubs. But Chris Kelly or Chris Massoglia who plays Darren is kinda hot.
http://www.freewebs.com/kwelstug Hannah

Reilly was not a good choice for this movie-I pictured Larten with a mohawk! lol. still, it might be a good movie. also....what is darren doing in a suit? i pictured him in a t-shirt and jeans until he got his blue robes! oh well.....i guess we all just have to cross our fingers!
http://www.freewebs.com/kwelstug Hannah

zip510, it didnt say his age but in the 7th book, if you remember, when he had the purge he said he whould finally reach his teens. also they might of mentioned what grade he was in in the 1st but i dont remember.
http://www.darrenshan.com Marissa a.k.a redcally or mouse

i loved his books! i wonder where he gets his ideas in the other series,demonata?um....if anyone has any cool things to say about him or anything bout him e-amil me - redcally@yahoo.com ! GO DARREN! WHOOOO!
Shan Fan

I.ve not red all the messages but i have to say some things to set people straight. It is true that darren does not say his age in the book. But if you know where to look you can find simple but effective clues as to how old he is. firstly darren is definatly in secondary school because if you read the first book you can tell he goes to multible classes with different teachers. thus he must be older then ten. but how much older? he cant be thirteen / fourteen because when the purge hits him (number 7) he wants to know if he will finally hit his......TEENS!! which we all know starts at thirTEEN. In numbers 11/12 when darren meets and gets to know darius we find out (i think) that darius is ten. (it might be eleven, i have to double check) Darren then says to Annie that when she knew him he was a little older than darius. I would have to say that darren is either 11, 12 or 13 at the start of the series.
Owen

Darren starts at the age of eleven in the series because he meets debbie when he is 13 (2 years after he left his family)
vlfl

I cant believe that ihave to wait so long. I heard about the movie coming out in 2007, and was sooooo sycked to see it. and now the FIRST pic comes out and i get sick every time i see it. not because i am mad, but because i have been wiating soooo long and now i have to wait another6and a half months to see it. well at leest the previews will help when i get too bored of witing. and the pics that are comeing out slowly. oh and darren was 12 when we first meet him .it says it when he talks to mr.crepsley for the first time, or around that time ara. he is in 6th grade. if look at the classes he takes it obviouse. and if i am wrong just ask him at darren shan.com i did and he answers(sometimes)!!!!! and chris kelly is HHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
fesey

ye i totaly agree with some of you guys tim burton should be playing this role. anyone got any ideas on the rating for the movie cause i think if they follow the books properly then it would be a 15 but you guys tell me.
Perdita

i love the Cirque Du Freak books but i think that if you have read the books as i have, the you come to think that the film will just ruin the Cirque Du Freak like it did with Harry Potter (i am an enormos fan so i should know)! now, i may only be a child, but i know what i am talking about! i have given the books a huge deal of thought after reading each one. like when they made harry potter, they have changed and taken out too many things- important things. anyone else who is a true fan will agree...
catherine

every1 except j riely perfect des tiny udidnt even have to see name
James

I belive that with John c. Reily as Larten Crepsley this movie will suck. If John C. reily was ever a good actor he cannot do this role because of his looks he will make the vampires a joke I belive a feircer looking person should play Darrens Master not this Idiot. I will go see the movie but my expectations are as low as can be.
T.

ok i've read all the books and loved them and i think the movie has potential even with reily or it could be horrible there really isn't any telling right now you know from a cast and ONE picture. i think when the first trailer comes out we'll be able to tell if it will be good or not. hell if i could see 5 seconds of the movie i could tell if it would be good or not
Sarah

I love the books, and i really don't think the movie can compare to the books. Reilly is a good comedy actor but can he really work well as a serious Larten Crepsly? i don't know but i am looking forward to seeing the movie. hopfully it won't be comedy because the books really arn't for laughs. anyway can't wait till the movie come's out.
erin

lol I think that tim burton shoud be the directer of it and that johnney depp should play Mr. Crepsley! ya know how like depp has played like sweeny todd and jack sparrow..all those weird roles..this would be PERFECT for him!!!
Emily

I wasn't so sure about Reilly playing Crepsley either (I think Reilly, I think Talladega Nights - WHAT? anyway...), but if you get a closer look, I think a lot of it has to do with Reilly's facial features. Look at the eyes - he'll pass.
Whats-her-face.

wasn't this a book?! i swear i think i've read it before...
kevin colin

this movie needs to be released!!! because i know that it was done long ago(one year ago)2008 but don't understand why they don't release it,maybe because twilight has the spotlight now and its not a good idea to compete with it now since more people have read twilight but as soon as people start hearing about cirque du freak its gonna be 10 times better they already have a manga witch is good so it can reach more people but the movie needs to come out at least this year!i cant wait til' 2010! and something else is that u people making the movie need to work on the second one!(vampire's assistant) so we won't have to wait another 2 years! i kno u guys r scared if the first movie isn't a big hit but i'm positively sure it will, i've read all books and the manga and am waiting for the movie!!! i kno it won't be the same as the books but i'm prepared for any changes!i love cirque du freak!
Corban

So i have been thinking unless they get Reilly to be completely serious this movie will be a big flop like The Series of Unfortunate Events was. i also heard that they are putting three books into each movie....... I hope its not true or the movie will be a big flop
Donovan

Hopefully john pulls it off. john doesnt look how i imagines him in the book.i pictured him like tall,skinny,pale,with longish hair.ahah. I know it said he had orange hair but whatever ahah
Dyi

Why is everyone dissing John C. Reilly as Larten? I was never fond of Reilly because a lot of the movies he was in is comedy but he's more subtle comedy, which put me off from most of his movies. And if any of you actually read the books, Larten has a dark/subtle sense of humor, which I can easily see Reilly doing.
Danielle

I first saw the preview when I went to see surrogate, which just recently came out, I remembered reading the first three books and I freaked! When I first saw Mr.Reilly as Mr.Crepsley I thought no way but If you see the preview I think he will nail the role. He seems so serious in the preview which makes him so freakin' hot!!!!!!XDDDD I am so going to see this!!!!!