Yeah, some of Lugosi's films flirted a little with his image, SPOOKS RUN WILD's 'Monster', his magician character in GHOSTS ON THE LOOSE, sleeping in a coffin in THE CORPSE VANISHES. But they don't follow through.

DEAD MEN WALK might have been interesting with Lugosi, though George Zucco is very good in the dual role.

How about VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES, with Bela as Ormand Murks, rather than Ian Keith?

Lugosi NOT being used in these films is one of the things that make me wonder about his availability and possible studio wariness about casting him.