Sam Worthington, the inexplicable star of James Cameron’s giant worldwide success, “Avatar,” is in negotiations to anchor the cast in the title role of Alex Proyas’ period vampire project, “Dracula Year Zero,” for Universal.

Michael De Luca is set to produce.

THR reports that the spec script written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, which centers on the origins of Dracula and includes many factual facets of the life of the famous Prince Vlad the Impaler, depicts Dracula as an anti-hero of sorts caught in a tragic love story.

Alissa Phillips will executive produce.

“Year Zero” marks Worthington’s first deal since playing paraplegic war veteran, Jake Sully, in “Avatar.”

In the meantime the Aussie-born star can be seen in the Helen Mirren thriller “The Debt,” as well as in the upcoming update of the classic sword and sandals tale, “Clash of the Titans.”