Castlevania is one of the most beloved video game franchises of all time. Creating an anime adaptation for Netflix stood to be a challenging task…. Especially considering show creator and writer Warren Ellis had never played a minute of the game previously. It turns out that it didn’t matter. Together with director Sam Deats the pair developed something extraordinary, so much so that Netflix renewed the series for a third season. Ellis, Deats and the cast discussed the show at New York Comic-Con 2019.

Castlevania
Graham McTavish (Dracula), James Callis (Alucard), and Alejandra Reynoso (Sypha) appear at the NYCC 2019 Castlevania panel. (Image: VIZ Media)

Actor Ade M’Cormick (Isaac) kicked things off by postulating on the show’s success, attributing it to the fact that “the characters are so fleshed out and so well written.” Graham McTavish (Dracula) added that the show’s central themes of “family, love, loyalty and religion” are what truly set Castlevania apart.

Assistant director Adam Deats noted that when it came to Castelvania in general, and now Season 3 in particular, they “didn’t set out to make a video game adaptation. [They] set out to make a good show.” Part of that process is pairing the animation to the voice work, and not the other way around. Sam Deats explained that the actors’ portrayals were often so powerful that, if they had produced storyboards prior to the voice work, they would sometimes have to rework the entire scene to adequately capture the voice performances.

Castlevania panel teases Season 3

Castlevania
Image: Frederator Studios/Netflix

Fans were excited to hear about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into the production…. But there was still one thing for which they were waiting. Thus far we’ve had no information on Castlevania, Season 3…. Until now. At the NYCC panel Saturday evening, we finally got our first glimpse of the new season.

In the scene, Sypha and Trevor are slowly travelling by carriage. They’re doing so to draw in a pack of creatures and demons that have been following them. Alejandra Reynoso (Sypha) hilariously steals the scene, playing up the damsel in distress. At one point she loudly espouses her feigned vulnerability, calling Trevor (Richard Armitage) her “brain-damaged servant.” In typical fashion, Trevor drops his face to hands and sighs “oh God, not this again.”

Castlevania
Castlevania creators and cast take a bow at NYCC 2019. (Image: VIZ Media)

There’s still no word on when Season 3 will debut. If you want to learn more about Castlevania, however, check back here to That Hashtag Show later for our exclusive interview with the cast!