Following his long-awaited adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is setting his sights on another classic work of gothic horror. Known for his distinctive Guillermo del Toro adaptations, the director is interested in creating his own version of Gaston Leroux’s 1909 novel, The Phantom of the Opera. Del Toro’s Frankenstein, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, recently opened in theaters and will be available on Netflix starting November 7.
Plans Beyond Frankenstein: Crime, Fantasy, and a Gothic Classic
Del Toro is currently developing several projects, including scripting and directing an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s dark fantasy novel, The Buried Giant, alongside a new crime thriller featuring Isaac. However, his fascination with gothic stories endures, as he revealed in an interview his interest in exploring The Phantom of the Opera from a new perspective.
A Different Take on a Misunderstood Villain
When asked about which misunderstood villain he would like to portray next, del Toro responded,
“The Phantom of the Opera, because it’s such a classic tale, but I would do it differently,”
highlighting his intention to offer a fresh and darker interpretation of Leroux’s story. Although he mentioned focusing on crime and stop-motion projects first, this interest signals a possible future direction for del Toro’s filmmaking.
Understanding the Phantom’s Tale and Its Challenges
The story of The Phantom of the Opera unfolds in late 19th-century Paris, centered on Christine, a young soprano in the chorus of the Palais Garnier Opera House. Christine receives secret training from a mysterious, disfigured figure living beneath the opera house, known as the Phantom. While he helps her rise to stardom, the Phantom is obsessed with her, blending themes of love and menace.
Though the Phantom character is widely known through the popular Broadway musical and its 2004 film adaptation starring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum, del Toro’s approach would derive directly from the original novel, which exists in the public domain, potentially avoiding the complexities of securing rights to the musical version.
Possible Shifts in Direction and Future Prospects
Del Toro’s previously planned adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness appears unlikely to move forward soon, as he recently commented that he doesn’t see
“people lining up to do”
the project. This may free him to pursue works like The Phantom of the Opera, which has a clearer narrative and less contentious rights situation.
Given the director’s creative vision and the enduring appeal of gothic horror tales, a Guillermo del Toro adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera promises to offer audiences a dark and intense reimagining, continuing his legacy of crafting striking cinematic interpretations of classic literature.
