Andrew Garfield Frankenstein movie dropout occurred due to scheduling conflicts, leading filmmaker Guillermo del Toro to recast the role of Frankenstein’s monster with Jacob Elordi. This unexpected change forced the creative team to swiftly adapt to the new lead actor just nine weeks before production.
Transforming the Monster: Challenges in Redesigning the Look
After nearly a year of crafting the monster’s appearance around Andrew Garfield, del Toro and makeup artist Mike Hill faced the challenge of reimagining the character for Jacob Elordi in a drastically shorter timeframe. The team had devoted nine months perfecting the design before they had to start over with only nine weeks remaining.
Guillermo del Toro shared in an interview with Vanity Fair,
“Andrew Garfield stepping out and Jacob coming in. I mean, it was like Jacob is the most perfect actor for the creature,”
emphasizing the seamless connection he found with Jacob.
“And we have a supernaturally good connection. It’s like, very few words. Very few things I have to say, and he does it… We recast, and we had nine weeks [to get the look down]. You can’t be under more pressure than that.”
Mike Hill on Jacob Elordi’s Unique Physicality and Presence
Mike Hill praised Jacob Elordi’s physical qualities that made him ideal for the monster’s role. Reflecting on his experience, Hill recalled an interview with Richard Donner about finding the perfect Superman. He said,
“The thing about Jacob is, he just has everything rolled into one. I remember an interview with Richard Donner. He said, ‘I eventually had to pray to God to bring me Superman with Christopher Reeve.’”
Hill added,
“What attracted me to him was his gangliness and his wrists. It was this looseness,”
before continuing,
“Then he has these real somber moments where he watches you really deftly, and his eyelids are low, with the long lashes like Karloff. I was like, ‘I don’t know who else you could get with a physicality like this.’ His demeanor is innocent, but it’s encompassed in a six-foot-five frame. He could really do a lot of damage if this man really wanted to be a bad guy.”
Jacob Elordi Discusses the Intense Experience of Joining the Project Late
Jacob Elordi opened up about his rapid integration into the film, highlighting how much he had to adapt on the fly. He remarked,
“Because I came in so late, everything happened on top of each other at the same time,”
then added,
“I was shooting as I was seeing, as I was understanding.”
This insight reveals the high-pressure environment surrounding the late casting change and the quick demands placed on Elordi to step into such an iconic role.
Looking Ahead to the Release and Impact of the New Frankenstein
With Jacob Elordi now embodying the monster in Guillermo del Toro’s anticipated Netflix production, audiences can expect a fresh interpretation shaped under intense creative pressure. The quick pivot following Andrew Garfield’s withdrawal highlights the resilience and adaptability of the team involved. As the release approaches, the innovative monster design and Elordi’s portrayal will be key elements to watch for in this unique retelling of the Frankenstein story.
