No. No director’s cut has been officially announced. Richard Claus and Karsten Kiilerich have not publicly discussed an alternate version.
In early 2017, Variety and Deadline quietly dropped a bombshell: Richard Claus, the producer of the original 2000 film, had acquired the rights to adapt the Der kleine Vampir book series by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg into a new motion capture feature. The working title? The Little Vampire 3D. the little vampire 2017 exclusive
But insiders whispered about an "exclusive" cut—a director’s vision that was darker, funnier, and more faithful to the books than the 2000 family-friendly version. Fandom forums labeled this mythical version "The Little Vampire 2017 Exclusive" —a reference to a private screening held for investors at the Cannes Film Festival that spring. In early 2017, Variety and Deadline quietly dropped
Angela Sommer-Bodenburg’s Der kleine Vampir series (1979–present) has spawned multiple adaptations, including the cult classic The Little Vampire (2000) starring Jonathan Lipnicki. In 2017, a new CGI-animated adaptation directed by Richard Claus (who also co-wrote the 2000 film) and Karsten Kiilerich was released internationally as The Little Vampire 3D. This film featured voice talent including Rasmus Hardiker, Amy Saville, and Jim Carter. which handled international rights)
Shortly after its release, certain digital platforms began listing a version titled The Little Vampire 2017 Exclusive. Despite the lack of official studio documentation from major distributors (e.g., Universal Pictures, which handled international rights), this version has appeared in metadata databases (e.g., IMDb, Trakt, Reelgood) and on streaming services. This paper aims to define what the “2017 Exclusive” entails, why it exists, and its significance in the context of digital-era children’s cinema.