Avatar star Sam Worthington will be growing some fangs and getting a Transylvanian tan for his new role as Dracula in 'Dracula Year Zero', a period vampire epic.
 
According to the Hollywood Reporter the film will, "explore the origin of Dracula, weaving vampire mythology with the true history of Prince Vlad the Impaler. It seeks to depict Dracula as a flawed hero in a tragic love story set in a dark age of magic and war."

A flawed hero! A tragic love story! MAGIC AND WAR!

It's supposedly a shift to a more vengeful hero than the monster seen in Bram Stoker's novel.

It looks like 'our' Sam is set for big post-Avatar things.

The project will be a summer 2011 release and will be directed by Alex Proyas for Universal.