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Frankenstein (2025 film)
Upcoming film by Guillermo del Toro From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Frankenstein is an upcoming American Gothic science fiction film[1] written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein. The film stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.
Frankenstein will have its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2025, followed by a limited theatrical release on October 17, 2025 and a global release by Netflix on November 7, 2025.[2]
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Premise
A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.[3]
Cast
- Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein
- Christian Convery as young Victor
- Jacob Elordi as Frankenstein's monster
- Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor's fiancée
- Christoph Waltz as Harlander[3], a wealthy arms merchant and Victor's patron
- Felix Kammerer as William Frankenstein, Victor's younger brother
- Lauren Collins as Claire Frankenstein, Victor's late mother
- Lars Mikkelsen as Captain Anderson
- David Bradley as Blind Man
- Sofia Galasso as Little Girl
- Charles Dance as Leopold Frankenstein, Victor's strict, oppressive father
- Ralph Ineson as Professor Krempe[4]
- Burn Gorman as Fritz
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Production
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Development
In 2007, Guillermo del Toro said that a project which he "would kill to make" would be a faithful "Miltonian tragedy" version of Frankenstein, citing Frank Darabont's "pretty much perfect" script, which evolved into Kenneth Branagh's film Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.[5] In January 2008, he revealed that he was then in the process of crafting drawings which he hoped to use as a basis for the world of the film, and that, additionally, he had begun taking script notes but stopped once the WGA strike had occurred.[6] The following month, del Toro said of his vision:
What I'm trying to do is take the myth and do something with it, but combining elements of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein without making it just a classical myth of the monster. The best moments in my mind of Frankenstein, of the novel, are yet to be filmed [...] The only guy that has ever nailed for me the emptiness, not the tragic, not the Miltonian dimension of the monster, but the emptiness is Christopher Lee in the Hammer films, where he really looks like something obscenely alive. Boris Karloff has the tragedy element nailed down but there are so many versions, including that great screenplay by Frank Darabont that was ultimately not really filmed.[7][8]
Later that year, in September, the film was set up through del Toro's three-year first-look picture deal at Universal Pictures, alongside a slate of films he was announced to direct including Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Slaughterhouse-Five and Drood.[9] Del Toro cited Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein illustrations as inspiration, and said the film would not be a direct adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel, but rather "an adventure story that involves the creature."[10][11] Del Toro wanted Wrightson to design his version of the creature.[12]
In 2009, del Toro stated that production on Frankenstein was not likely to begin for at least four years.[13] Despite this, he had already cast frequent collaborator Doug Jones in the role of Frankenstein's monster and begun initiating makeup tests with the actor.[14][15] Jones later commented that the project was shelved due to Universal's future plans for their Dark Universe franchise.[16] At Comic-Con 2010, del Toro told Collider that the story was his "favorite novel in the world".[17] In 2013, del Toro expressed public interest in casting Benedict Cumberbatch for the role of the monster.[18] In 2014, del Toro said that he would like to do versions of both Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, and that Universal chairperson Donna Langley had approached him several times about getting it going but that he was reluctant to do so because it is his "dream project".[19]
In 2016, del Toro said of his efforts to make the film:
Frankenstein to me is the pinnacle of everything, and part of me wants to do a version of it, part of me has for more than 25 years chickened out of making it. I dream I can make the greatest Frankenstein ever, but then if you make it, you've made it. Whether it's great or not, it's done. You cannot dream about it anymore. That's the tragedy of a filmmaker. [...] You landed a 10 or you landed a 6.5 but you were at the Olympics already, and you were judged.[20]
In 2020, in an interview promoting the film Antlers, del Toro stated that if he had the funding, he would make an adaptation of Frankenstein that would span two to three films due to the book's complexity and changing points of view.[21]
In 2023, the project was revived by Netflix, with whom del Toro had signed a multi-year deal to produce projects. Following the win of Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio at the 95th Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature, Variety revealed that he was set to write and direct the feature with Andrew Garfield, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth in early talks for potential roles.[22] In September, del Toro revealed that filming was scheduled to commence in February 2024, and that Christoph Waltz had been added to the cast.[23] In January, Jacob Elordi replaced Garfield for the role of the monster, due to scheduling conflicts that had resulted from the SAG-AFTRA strikes.[24][25] Del Toro had spent nine months designing the look of Garfield's monster but they were scrapped when he departed, leaving only nine weeks for him to redesign the look for the taller Elordi.[26] Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Convery, and Charles Dance joined the cast in undisclosed roles. Dance also portrayed the father of Frankenstein in the 2015 movie Victor Frankenstein. [25][27] In April 2024, del Toro announced Ralph Ineson had been cast in the film in a "pivotal" cameo appearance.[28]
Filming
Principal photography began on February 12, 2024, in Toronto, and concluded on September 30.[27][29] Additional filming took place at the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and Burghley House in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in September 2024.[30][31] Del Toro stated that the movie will not be a horror movie, but an incredibly emotional story. Composer of the movie, Alexander Desplat, also said that :"Guillermo's cinema is very lyrical, and my music is rather lyrical too. So I think the music of Frankenstein will be something very lyrical and emotional. I'm not trying to write horrific music."[32]
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Release
For its North American premiere, Frankenstein made it to the 'Special Presentations' programme of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival,[33] where it will be screened on September 8, 2025.[34] It is scheduled to be released in select theaters on October 17, 2025 before releasing on Netflix on November 7, 2025.[35][36]
References
External links
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