Jacob Elordi to Play the Monster in Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’

(Left) Jacob Elordi as Felix Catton in ‘Saltburn.’ Photo: Amazon MGM Studios. Amazon MGM Studios. (Right) 1931’s ‘Frankenstein.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

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Mary Shelley’s classic, literary horror-genre-goosing novel ‘Frankenstein’ is something that filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has had on his To-Do list for more than a decade.

And early last year, it looked like he was finally making some progress, since word arrived that talks were under way with Andrew Garfield, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth to star.

Now, Deadline reports that Garfield has had to drop out, just one more ripple effect of last year’s strikes still impacting schedules. But the good news for the director is that Jacob Elordi, whose star is on the rise thanks to ‘Saltburn’ and ‘Priscilla’, is now lined up to step in.

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A new adaptation of the classic story. Read the Plot

What’s the story of ‘Frankenstein’?

1931’s ‘Frankenstein.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

Shelly’s literary game-changer follows Victor Frankenstein (Isaac), a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature (Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

Del Toro is writing, directing and producing alongside J. Miles Dale, who served as a producer on del Toro’s ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ for Netflix, where this new movie is also based.

Who else is in Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’?

Christian Convery as Gus in ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

Alongside Elordi, we’ve learned that the cast is expanding to include Christoph Waltz (who voiced a character in del Toro’s animated ‘Pinocchio’), David Bradley (ditto), Felix Kammerer (‘All Quiet on the Western Front’), Lars Mikkelsen (‘Ahsoka’), and Christian Convery (‘Sweet Tooth’).

Related Article: Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi Talk director Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’What has del Toro said about ‘Frankenstein’ in the past?

Director Guillermo del Toro for ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.’

“The only way to do the Shelley novel is to actually do a four-hour miniseries,” he told MTV in 2008. “But I think there are permutations in which you can tell the myth in a different way.”

Obviously, he’s clearly found a way to make the story work as a movie –– and has now cracked the script.

It’ll need to be something fresh –– Shelley’s book has been adapted many times in many ways for all sorts of media. But we can trust del Toro will bring his distinctive stamp to the story of the doctor who reanimates dead bodies and the creature he creates that faces hatred from the local villagers.

Guillermo del Toro poses backstage with the Oscar® for Animated Feature Film during the live ABC telecast of the 95th Oscars® at Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 12, 2023.

Quite what he intends to do with it is a mystery for now, but he may choose to tweak it in a modern-day setting or stick to more of a period feel. Either way, this is certainly something we know this director can do.

And hopefully, Netflix will give the result some proper big-screen treatment before it ends up on the company’s servers, and we’re glad del Toro is getting to tick another long-held dream film off his list.

As for Elordi, he’s worked on Paul Schrader’s next film, ‘Oh Canada’ and indie drama ‘On Swift Horses’. He’ll also be back for the next season of HBO’s ‘Euphoria’, due in 2025.

Jacob Elordi on HBO’s ‘Euphoria.’

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