Guillermo del Toro has finally realized his decades-old ambition with the upcoming Netflix adaptation of Frankenstein, a project infused with his lifelong fascination and emotional investment in monsters and misunderstood beings. At the center of this reinvention is Jacob Elordi, who takes on the demanding role of Frankenstein’s Monster, navigating the weight of the character’s cinematic history while aligning with del Toro’s deeply personal approach.
Jacob Elordi’s Preparation and Relationship with the Monster Legacy
Elordi initially resisted watching the iconic Boris Karloff films that set a standard for the Frankenstein Monster, hesitant to let previous portrayals shape his own interpretation. After seeking Guillermo del Toro’s advice, Elordi was encouraged to dive into these classics openly, which ultimately led to a full embrace of Karloff’s work. He stated,
“At first I thought, I’ll stay away from this. I want to do my own thing, and then I asked Guillermo, ‘Should I watch the other Frankensteins?’ And he goes, ‘What the f-ck do you mean?’ I was like, ‘Well, I don’t want it to be influenced.’ He says, ‘My friend, it’s a movie, it can’t f–cking hurt you.’ I went home, and I just binged them.”
—Jacob Elordi
This immersion in the classic creature’s portrayal helped Elordi understand the nuanced physicality and gaze that defined Karloff’s performances. He reflected,
“I devoured all of his monsters. Something in his gaze, something in the way that he moves…. The biggest thing was just immersing myself in the world of these creatures.”
—Jacob Elordi
Though Elordi’s Frankenstein will depart visually from the traditional square-headed and bolt-necked image, the essence of those early films remains deeply influential within del Toro’s visionary concept.
Del Toro’s Artistic and Emotional Direction for Frankenstein
Throughout filming, a sticker of Karloff’s Monster shaded the director’s monitoring screens, symbolizing the weight of cinematic heritage inspiring the entire production. Del Toro, a devoted scholar and passionate collector of Universal monster memorabilia, has transformed his Los Angeles home, known as Bleak House, into a sanctuary dedicated to the genre.
Rather than producing a conventional horror movie, del Toro emphasizes the emotional depth woven through the Frankenstein story. He explained,
“Somebody asked me the other day, does it have really scary scenes? For the first time, I considered that. It’s an emotional story for me. It’s as personal as anything. I’m asking a question about being a father, being a son… I’m not doing a horror movie — ever. I’m not trying to do that.”
—Guillermo del Toro
This emotional gravity anchors the complex, often painful relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Oscar Isaac, portraying Victor, noted the difference between del Toro’s interpretation and Mary Shelley’s original novel. He said,
“In the Mary Shelley book, funnily enough, Victor had the sweetest stage-mom of a dad. He followed him around, paid for everything, was such a big part of his life, writing him letters all the time, believing in him. And he still ended up being what he was.”
—Oscar Isaac
The Influence of Fatherhood in del Toro’s Narrative
Del Toro channels his personal experiences as a father into the film’s themes, highlighting his evolving understanding of relationships between fathers and sons. He remarked,
“There are certain movies I could not have made if I hadn’t become a father. When people say, ‘How do you react to bad reviews?’ I go, you get them in life with your teenage kids. ‘That’s two thumbs down,’ I’ve tried my best. You always have your blind spots. But I think I can talk to my kids and have really, really deep conversations. They bring their troubles to me. The greatest tribute you can expect as a dad is for them to come to you and say, ‘I have this problem. I need you.’”
—Guillermo del Toro
The relationship between Victor and the Monster diverges sharply from this ideal. Their bond is harsh and fractured, echoing toxic generational behaviors. Del Toro discussed this dynamic by stating,
“The movie is trying to articulate that the father becomes his father to his son without realizing it.”
—Guillermo del Toro
Visual Style Rooted in History and Decay
The film’s aesthetic draws heavily from the Gothic tradition, with much of the story unfolding within the ruins of once-majestic buildings, emphasizing themes of deterioration and beauty found in destruction. Del Toro offers insight into this choice:
“Gothic romance was born partially out of the fascination with ruins. Sometimes they’re more beautiful than the building complete because it’s the clash of creation and destruction.”
—Guillermo del Toro
A Lifelong Passion Project Comes to Fruition
This Frankenstein adaptation is a passion project that del Toro has nurtured since childhood, waiting for the right moment and maturity to execute the story with the nuance it demands. He revealed,
“It’s a movie I have been wanting to do for 50 years since I saw the first Frankenstein. I had an epiphany, and it’s basically a movie that required a lot of growth and a lot of tools that I couldn’t have done 10 years ago. Now I’m brave or crazy enough or something, and we’re gonna tackle it.”
—Guillermo del Toro
For del Toro, Frankenstein’s Monster transcends the label of a mere creature; it embodies deeper human themes. He recalled a formative moment when Marilyn Monroe’s character in The Seven Year Itch remarked that
“the creature just needed somebody to like him.”
Del Toro stated,
“I fell in love with Marilyn, and I fell in love with the creature in that scene at a very early age. And I thought, you know, all we have is people that look at people the wrong way. That’s what we have in this world.”
—Guillermo del Toro
Ensemble Cast Supporting Del Toro’s Vision
Alongside Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac, the film features a strong supporting cast including Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza, Christoph Waltz portraying Dr. Septimus Pretorius, Lars Mikkelsen as Captain Anderson, and Ralph Ineson in the role of Professor Kempre. This ensemble complements del Toro’s layered storytelling with performances that promise to capture the film’s emotional and gothic tones.
By blending Gothic romanticism, intense emotional undercurrents, and a deep reverence for genre history, this new Frankenstein adaptation is positioned to offer audiences a fresh yet profoundly personal cinematic experience rooted in both legacy and innovation.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Zendaya leave Jacob Elordi?
A. The lead actors from Euphoria broke up because one of them was unfaithful.
Q. What was Jacob Elordi accused of?
A. Jacob Elordi is alleged to have grabbed a reporter’s neck during a radio prank that went poorly. Joshua Fox from Australia’s KIIS FM claimed he found the Saltburn actor at a bar in Sydney after learning he was there.
Q. How long did Jacob Elordi and Zendaya date?
A. Zendaya and Jacob Elordi were involved with each other from August 2019 until early 2020.
