WRITER: Stephen Sommers.
PRODUCERS: Bob Ducsay and Stephen Sommers.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: David Minkowski, Artist W. Robinson, and Matthew Stillman.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Sam Mercer.
ORIGINAL MUSIC: Alan Silvestri.
DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures.
Carl: Where are you going to go? I don't know if you've looked in the mirror lately, but you kind of stick out in a crowd.
DVD RELEASE DATE: October 19th, 2004 (USA)
BOX OFFICE OPENING: $51.7 million (USA)
BOX OFFICE RESULT: $120.1 million* (USA)
BUDGET: $160 million
SHOOTING DATES: January 2003 -- May 2003
- It was reported that Paul Hogan was in talks to play "Carl". It was subsequently reported that the role went to David Wenham.
- Originally planned in 1994 as a direct sequel to Dracula (1992) with Anthony Hopkins to reprise the title role. After it was pushed back, many story elements were changed.
- Hugh Jackman had hair extensions added for filming.
- During filming, Hugh Jackman accidentally broke an extra's hand.
- The second-to-late scene of X2 (2003) (Cyclops, Wolverine and Professor X discussing Jean Grey) was filmed while Hugh Jackman had a a day off from this movie.
- So that the production company can hold certain rights to the character, the original character from the Dracula series Abraham Van Helsing was changed to the new 'kid brother' Gabriel Van Helsing instead.
- Director Stephen Sommers claimed in an interview he changed the main character's name from Abraham to Gabriel, as he did not think he could have a lead character named Abraham. The Irishman who wrote Dracula, Bram Stoker, named the character after himself -- Bram being a shortening of Abraham.
- Richard Rodburgh's interpretation of Count Dracula is taken from the supposedly contemporaneous appearance of Gypsies.
- The role of Igor was specifically written for Sommers's friend and frequently collaborator, Kevin J. O'Connor.
- The opening sequence follows, shot for shot, the original sequence from Frankenstein (1931), right up until Dracula shows up to talk with Viktor.
- Cans delivering the film to theaters were labeled "The Vatican Detective".
- Dr. Frankenstein's lab was equipped with antique medical equipment purchased on E-bay.
- While the film is an homage to the 1930s and 40s Universal Monster horror films, the inclusion of Mr. Hyde is an oddity, as he was never one of the Universal Monster roster. Instead, the films based on Hyde during that time were made for Universal's rival MGM. However, in 1953, Universal did feature the monster in the comedy Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953).
- Dracula's diminutive henchmen, the Dwerger, are actually trolls from Germanic folklore.
- Followed by a direct-to-video animated prequel: Van Helsing: The London Assignment (2004).
Igor: Before they do it unto me!
Van Helsing: Don't worry. He's getting to it.
Van Helsing: It's a bit of both, I think.
Van Helsing: Pretty much.
Carl: A genius with access to unstable chemicals!
Count Vladislaus Dracula: That's not all I could do with it.
