Corey Hawkins Talks About His Original Character Clemens and Dracula in ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ – Interview
*These interviews took place before the SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the hard work of writers and actors, The Last Voyage of the Demeter wouldn’t have become a reality, and everyone working on bringing our favorite stories to life should be properly compensated for their work.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter is set to introduce audiences to a brand new version of one of the most recognizable monsters in the history of film. An entire crew will be trapped in the middle of the ocean with the deadly creature, without a way to communicate with anyone on the mainland about what’s happening on the titular ship. Directed by André Øvredal, the story will be based on a single chapter from the original Dracula novel, but one with enough storytelling potential to pull off the execution of this adventure. No one will be safe from the winged creature burdened with a thirst for blood.
Check out the full interview with Corey Hawkins below:
Corey Hawkins’ character, Clemens, was not in the original novel. When asked about what he used for inspiration in his particular case, the actor replied, “First of all, we needed to figure out what this black man is doing on this ship at this time. You know what I mean? That’s how we sort of came to these real doctors and black men who studied at Cambridge or different universities overseas at that time. Clemens also grew up on ships and boats as a kid, under his father. Clemens started coming into view, and more into view, by the time we shot. It was like we knew who he was, and then Clemens has to go on this journey throughout the film. And that journey is he starts as a man of science, and you know, has to become a believer in the supernatural.”
In speaking further on Clemens’ journey, Hawkins shared, “It’s crazy because he ends up in this situation where he faces his fears. And part of that, in speaking of that dynamic, as people of color you walk through the world sometimes as the other. And I think that Dracula also represents the other. No one understands him and Clemens has walked though the world feeling misunderstood as well. So, you’re dealing with fear and it’s just all of the things in this tight narrative.”
Be sure to see Corey Hawkins in The Last Voyage of the Demeter in theaters now!
