Imagine you are the casting agent for a brand new, big budget, Hollywood production of 'Dracula.' The Producer wants a faithful reproduction of the story with minimal changes to accomodate modern audiences.

A classy director has been chosen, someone ... such as ... I don't know - ahhh ... Joss Whedon.

Who amongst the many actors available today would you cast as.

Dracula
Lucy Westenra
Mina Murray
Jonathan Harker
Dr. Seward
Quincy P. Morris
Arthur Holmwood
R.M. Renfield
Dr. Van Helsing
Mrs. Westenra
Dead Sea Captain.
The three brides.

Here's my cast and rationale.

Dracula (Has to portray both an older and a younger man. Driven, powerful, ambitious, ruthless, seductive and resilient) - Benedict Cumberbatch, has proven his capabilities with a range of roles, and is the right age to portray an older or a younger (rejuvenated) man.

Lucy Westenra (Vivacious, fun, filled with life, the center of attention - who draws a fatal suitor). - Emma Watson - Hermione has graduated as a confident young woman.

Mina Murray (Brains, beauty, charisma, more serious than Lucy - Dracula's foil). - Emilia Clarke has demonstrated a commanding range of emotion, and she can do both horror and seduction, necessary for this role. Believable as an intelligent woman after her role in GoT

Jonathan Harker (Major character, has to be charismatic enough to carry the first quarter of the movie). - Kit Harington, remembering that J Harker is a lawyer, not a mountain man. Kit Harington can bring the right qualities to the role and is believable as a genuine love match for a sharp, capable woman.

Dr. Seward. (Get's a lot of page time and is a major character. Mature without being old). - Clive Owen, brings maturity to this important role.

Quincy P. Morris. (I like the idea of modernising this role with an african american actor). - Chiwetel Ejiofor, no longer '12 years a slave' he brings a genuine physical presence to the resident bad-ass in the Van Helsing vampire hunting club, and what young, wealthy English heiress wouldn't want the charismatic Chiwetel Ejiofor as a suitor.

Arthur Holmwood (betrothed to the doomed Lucy - need a good chemistry here as their final scenes are very emotional). - David Tennant - another capable british actor to carry this important role vis-a-vis the younger Lucy.

R.M. Renfield (Strangely enough, Renfield is one of the more dimensional characters, he requires a physical presence as he is quite strong, very emotional and driven to all manner of extremes - including at the end - self sacrifice). - Tom Hardy, fresh of playing Mad Max in 'Fury Road' he brings the necessary physicality and mental gravitas to this role.

Dr. Van Helsing (An older man, who is still vital, supposedly wise, but takes too long to reach the correct conclusions). - Hugh Jackman (in a strange co-incidence) can do this role standing on his head, and will carry it off with a commanding charisma, if slightly daft at times.

Mrs. Westenra (Lucy's mother who is infirm, relatively old (50+) with a weak heart). - Eva Green. A small, almost cameo role, do her up with enough makeup to carry it off.

Dead Sea Captain (recounts the events on the Demeter and dies on board - needs to be able to convey courage in the face of impending doom) - Geoffrey Rush. Fairly long in the tooth, but not as long as Vlad, he can tell a story of inevitable doom better than anyone else. Plus he has experience as a pirate captain - what could be better than that.

The three brides. (Seductive in the extreme. A showcase of the power to mesmerise with desire). - Sticking with my first picks.

The Blond Bride: Margot Robbie - Carries the main lines and shows the most initiative amongst the brides, leads the attempted seduction of Jonathan Harker.
Brunette Bride #1: Cara Delevingne - More ethereal than Margot, comes across as both sexy and ghostly.
Brunette Bride #2: Antje Traue - after a stint as a native of Krypton in the 'Man of Steel' makes an excellent brunette scene stealer.