First Full Look: Jacob Elordi as Creature in del Toro’s Frankenstein

Netflix has unveiled the first complete image of Jacob Elordi portraying the creature in Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein, currently showing in theaters. Released on the streaming platform’s social media on Friday, the portrait highlights Elordi’s transformation into the patchwork being brought to life by Victor Frankenstein, played by Oscar Isaac.

Elordi’s interpretation of the creature features pale, scarred skin, a notable lack of eyebrows, and long, unkempt dark hair cascading past his shoulders, marking a distinctive departure from traditional cinematic depictions.

Design Inspired by Mary Shelley’s Original Description

Del Toro’s creature diverges significantly from the classic, short-haired, block-headed image made famous by Boris Karloff in the 1930s. His design instead draws inspiration from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, in which the monster is described as having flowing, lustrous black hair, a shriveled complexion, and watery eyes. This fresh vision aligns the film more closely with the literary source.

Director’s Vision of a Beautiful, Newborn Creature

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Guillermo del Toro described Elordi’s creature as

“staggeringly beautiful, in an otherworldly way”

. He emphasized Victor Frankenstein’s dual role as both artist and surgeon, explaining

“Victor is as much an artist as he is a surgeon, and if he’s been dreaming about this creature for all his life, he’s going to nail it.”

Del Toro added,

“It looks like a newborn, alabaster creature. The scars are beautiful and almost aerodynamic.”

The director was keen to avoid portraying the creature as a mere accident victim patched together, stating,

“the feeling that you were seeing an accident victim that has been patched [together].”

Instead, del Toro clarified that the creature’s flesh patches come from different bodies, resulting in varying skin tones across his form. He explained,

“The hues are pale but almost translucent,”

concluding that the character

“feels like a newborn soul.”

Jacob Elordi’s Emotional Performance Praised by Guillermo del Toro

Del Toro lauded Elordi’s ability to convey the creature’s emotional journey, recalling,

“One of the things I thought needed the most intelligence, emotionally, was to track the evolution of the creature.”

The actor expressed to del Toro,

“This creature is more me than me.”

The director commented on Elordi’s connection to the role:

[Elordi] said, ‘And people don’t know that, and I’m going to be able to be myself through this.’ He brought a truth to this performance that’s really something to behold.

Oscar Isaac Highlights the Creature’s Complexity and Relationship to Victor

Oscar Isaac also praised Elordi’s portrayal during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying,

“He did so much work in a short amount of time, and as soon as he walked on set, he is heartbreaking.”

Isaac described the creature as a mix of

“scary and strange and mysterious and graceful, and very beautiful.”

The actor discussed the profound link between his character Victor Frankenstein and Elordi’s creature. He said,

“They are a mirror of each other.”

Isaac elaborated on the film’s thematic cycles, saying,

“They’re just these twin things, much like what [del Toro’s] story’s about: The way that a father passes on to a son, and that son becomes a father and passes it on to his son, and the way these circles just keep going and keep going.”

Adding emotional depth, Isaac reflected,

“At the end, this heartbreak happens, and this forgiveness happens. And the hope is that this creature, who’s all set up to create chaos and violence, somehow stops that and changes it all.”

Upcoming Netflix Release and Theatrical Availability

Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein is currently playing in select theaters before its scheduled Netflix premiere on November 7. This release marks a new chapter for the classic tale, blending literary authenticity with a modern cinematic approach.