🐺 Kemp, a classically trained dancer (he was principal at the Royal Ballet), brings a graceful, feral physicality to Velkan, Anna’s cursed brother. The transformation effects hold up surprisingly well, and Kemp’s movement makes the Wolf Man feel like a predator, not just a puppet.

🐺 Fresh off the first X-Men films, Jackman traded his adamantium claws for a harpoon crossbow and a wide-brimmed hat. As the amnesiac, church-sanctioned monster hunter, he brought both gruff action-hero energy and surprising vulnerability. Fun fact: He did nearly all his own stunts, including the carriage chase.

🧛‍♀️ A former model, Maran brings a silent, feline menace to her role. She barely speaks but oozes danger. (Fun fact: Maran later founded the clean beauty brand Josie Maran Cosmetics.)

Before the MCU and the Dark Universe reboot, Stephen Sommers gave us a gloriously over-the-top, gothic action-fest: Van Helsing . Released in 2004, it pitted the legendary monster hunter against Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man—all in one film. Love it or hate it, the cast was absolutely stacked. Let’s break down who brought these iconic characters to life.