Advertisement
Trevor Belmont, Alucard, and Sypha Belnades may not be returning to confront Dracula and his malevolent followers, but their descendants are stepping up! The highly anticipated sequel spin-off of the 2017 hit TV series Castlevania is here, adapting another video game from the franchise and introducing a new generation of heroes to face the enduring vampire threat.
Castlevania: Nocturne is set long after Dracula’s initial quest for vengeance in Wallachia, but the stories remain interconnected. The timeline of the Castlevania animated universe encompasses numerous games released over the past three decades. The original four-season series drew from the 1989 game Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse for its first two seasons, followed by 2005’s Castlevania: Curse of Darkness in the second season, and 1997’s Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for Alucard’s backstory.
In the original series, we witnessed Dracula’s rise fueled by the persecution and execution of his human wife, and the subsequent alliance of Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard to bring him down. The vampire threat resurfaces in Castlevania: Nocturne, 300 years and 1,400 miles away from Dracula’s initial appearance. So, where does this upcoming spin-off series fit into the chronology?
When does Castlevania: Nocturne take place?
Castlevania: Nocturne unfolds at the close of the 18th century amidst the historic backdrop of the French Revolution, more than three centuries after the original series. It draws its inspiration from the Castlevania: Rondo of Blood video game, first released in 1993. This shift in setting takes the narrative to the streets of France, departing from the English monarchy.
Drawing from the video game timeline, the original Castlevania was set in 1476 A.D. (Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse), while the upcoming sequel, Castlevania: Nocturne, will be set in 1792 A.D. (Rondo of Blood), as confirmed by Netflix during the Geeked Week 2022. This positions the time shift precisely at 316 years after the original series. Fans can expect to witness the establishment of the French Republic on September 22, 1792, in the forthcoming series. The trailer already hints at this with neoclassical architecture and characters adorned in revolutionary French attire, featuring ruffled jabot collars and double-breasted jackets.
Castlevania: Nocturne characters: Is Richter Trevor’s son?
In light of the substantial temporal shift, Richter Belmont, a direct descendant of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, assumes the role of the valiant hero in Castlevania: Nocturne. His daunting mission is to thwart the impending vampire apocalypse looming over the world. It’s worth noting that contrary to popular rumors, Richter is not Trevor’s son, but rather can be situated anywhere from 4 to 10 generations down the Belmont family lineage.
Richter will be joined by Maria Renard, a French revolutionary, and Annette, a young sorceress and former slave from the Caribbean. On the opposing side, Erzsebet Báthory, a vampire queen inspired by the real-life Hungarian noblewoman, serves as the antagonist, dispatching vampires on a mission to conquer the world and fulfill the prophecy.
**Castlevania: Nocturne plot: What happens in the video game vs. series?**
While Castlevania: Nocturne is undoubtedly a sequel spin-off, it diverges from picking up immediately after the conclusion of the fourth season. Instead, it ventures into uncharted territory, promising a narrative that is both exhilarating and unpredictable. Although the precise details of the series plot remain cloaked in mystery, it may draw from the immersive plot of its video game source.
In Rondo of Blood, the Dark Priest Shaft resurrects the Dark Lord, leading to assaults on women from a nearby village, including Richter Belmont’s fiancée Annette. Richter promptly locates and rescues her, but now bears a greater responsibility. To prevent the vampires from bringing about the end of the world in France, the descendant of the Belmont family continues to combat them with the help of the enigmatic Maria Renard.
The involvement of Maria and Annette is confirmed by the official cast list of the series. However, in an unexpected twist, Castlevania: Nocturne seems to veer away from the traditional revival of Dracula, hinting at Erzsebet Báthory taking a prominent role as the central antagonist, adding an intriguing layer of complexity to the story.