Van Helsing's name was changed from Abraham to Gabriel by his creator, screenplay-writer and director Stephen Sommers. The character has lost his memory, and has only clues to his history and true identity. Throughout the film, Van Helsing's numerous references are made to the archangel Gabriel, the "Left Hand of God", and the fact that Van Helsing has nightmares about horrific battle scenes throughout history that hint at a supernatural lifespan. Also, in the film Van Helsing mentions to his friar sidekick Carl that he remembers a battle with the Romans at Masada in the year 72 A.D. At the end of the film, Count Dracula claims that it was a younger Van Helsing who murdered him centuries before, thus beginning the cycle which resulted in Dracula becoming a vampire.