The Irish filmmaker talks making his feature debut with Dracula Untold, the Universal Monsters universe and more.

And so they had seen it and I kind of got on the radar and started pitching away.

When I first got it I was a little bit skeptical, you know.

It felt a lot more personal to me.

Ill have done something worthwhile.

It was just incremental steps from there.

It seems like every generation has its own film Dracula its own actor playing that character.

Which one had the biggest impression on you?

I think the gold standard wasBram Stokers Dracula.

It was so bold and operatic and it perfectly tapped into the romanticism of the novel.

Its not a perfect film by any means but it had a lot of heart.

Neil Jordan has excelled in that particular genre.

Most people are not aware of that, I dont think.

But you cant get bogged down too much in the politics.

But this isnt that film that gets to explore all of those aspects.

Its the bridge between Vlad having this history and being a monster underneath.

Its the same thing with Vlad.

Hes very, very different.

He has an instinct to kill.

I went to Romania a few years ago and hes kind of a hero there.

Its very interesting how his history is viewed there.

History is spoken by men in different positions, with different points of view.

Its those who were able to control the storytelling at the time.

You look at the Germans, theyll have a very different point of view to the Romanians.

But the German printing press came at the same time when Vlad was around and committing these atrocities.

So there was always a hunger there to be able to hear these stories.

But the Russians also had a very different point of view.

They saw him as a very fair but tough leader.

What made Luke Evans the man for you and what did he bring to the table?

Starting off just by physical appearance, I thought he was going to be perfect for the role.

But I had to talk to him first and just see what his ideas were for the character.

Its a great luxury when you’re able to talk to an actor.

He had a great work ethic.

Id seen him in a couple of films that I thought he was brilliant in.

They were only small supporting parts but he was so committed.

I saw him inImmortalsandClash of the Titansand you could see potential, you know.

I was absolutely blessed to have the guy and have the opportunity to work with him.

Well I didnt have any say in it.

All of the huge studio films, all the big Marvel films,Star Warsas well.

Theyve all been done out of London.

But the same tax incentive thats in the UK is also in Northern Ireland.

So it was just a lot more competitive and it was hitting the number that the studio wanted.

I just wanted to be able to make the film.

Are you involved in that?

Like any modern studio film, they look at it as Can we tell the story longer?

Its not my job to start thinking outside of what I need to do in the most immediate future.

So I was only focused on what we were doing.

Do you have your next project lined up after this?

Would you like to finally makeThe Cup of Tearsinto a feature?

Cupwas one of those things that, I mean, that was my baby.

That was the one that I started out with.

And I did write a script in the UK.

Its something maybe down the line that Id like to do.

This has been such an exhausting process.

I would like to be able to take off the rest of the year.

Id like to take a little bit more time.

Its all a frame of mind.

I have to be excited about something.

I might feel different about what project that will be in the new year.

Dracula Untoldis out now in theaters everywhere.

Like us onFacebookand follow us onTwitterfor all news updates related to the world of geek.

AndGoogle+, if thats your thing!