Keanu Reeves’ Harker is one of the most criticized aspects of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but other actors were originally considered for the role. Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 horror movie was a box office hit and received moderately positive reviews, praised for its vibrant production design and the enthusiasm of its cast. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is also the most faithful adaptation of the author’s 1897 novel, but some decisions were woefully misguided, especially the casting of Reeves.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula sees Harker travel to Transylvania to close a real estate deal with the reclusive Count Dracula (Gary Oldman). Harker is held prisoner in the vampire’s castle, while Dracula sails to England and is unleashed upon the streets of London. He becomes infatuated with Harker’s fiancé, Mina Murray (Winona Ryder), believing she is the reincarnation of his dead wife. Harker eventually escapes the castle and unites with Dr. Abraham Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins) to kill Dracula.
Unfortunately, Keanu Reeves’ Harker is spoiled by stiff line delivery and one of the worst English accents in cinema. However, he wasn't Coppola’s original choice for Harker. Three other famous actors were considered for Bram Stoker’s Dracula - an iconic Hollywood thespian, a sitcom star, and a '90s cult figure.
Johnny Depp
According to an interview with Vulture (via Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003. It’s unfortunate, given the Gothic romance likely would have appealed to Depp, and he later adopted impressive British accents for characters including Jack Sparrow, J.M. Barrie, and Sweeney Todd.
Charlie Sheen
While Coppola initially had his eye on Johnny Depp, the studio also considered Charlie Sheen. They were more concerned with selling movie tickets than casting the right actor, as shown by Two and a Half Men, Sheen had enjoyed positive reviews for his dramatic turns in Platoon and Wall Street. He might have looked slightly less out of place than Reeves, but it’s difficult to imagine Sheen as an 1800s solicitor, leaving no doubt as to why he wasn’t cast in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Christian Slater
Having starred alongside Winona Ryder in the 1989 black comedy Kevin Costner's film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves exposed that he struggles with a British accent.
Overall, it’s clear Depp would have delivered the most convincing performance, but the screenplay never provided a particularly captivating role in comparison to the rest of the colorful ensemble. Keanu Reeves’ Harker is a low point in his career, but Bram Stoker’s Dracula remains a memorable entry in the horror genre for its extravagance and iconic depiction of the literary vampire. It even led to the amusing story of how Reeves and Ryder were accidentally married during filming.
