Discover5AM StoryTalkThe Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1
The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1

The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1

Update: 2025-10-07
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How could a straight-to-series greenlight go so wrong for the first TV series I ever created?!

Today brings you the first part of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.

A story so terrifying it became infamous in two different countries’ TV industries.

I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sky's 2013 series 'DRACULA' starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and a boatload of other brilliant actors. If you've ever aspired to work in Hollywood, this is a must listen. Maybe it'll help you avoid the fate that befell me when I finally "made it".

Part 2 will be published in two days and parts 3 and 4 will be published next week.

Subscribe to 5AM StoryTalk here at Spotify so you don't miss out on the rest of this horror story's gory details!

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Links:

  • Watch the trailer for 'Dracula' (2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCT9o4oFXNI&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcolehaddon.substack.com%2F
  • Learn more about the series at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula_(2013_TV_series)
  • Read more about my experiences on 'Dracula' at Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/5am-storytalk-reflections-will-the

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Email:

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5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.

This podcast's music is by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠.


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The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1

The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1

Cole Haddon