Guillermo del Toro has finally brought his dream project to life — a visually haunting and emotionally charged adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. After years of anticipation, the teaser trailer has been released, revealing Jacob Elordi as the Creature in this dark and poetic reimagining of one of literature’s greatest Gothic tales.
A Monster Decades in the Making
For more than ten years, Guillermo del Toro has been nurturing his vision for Frankenstein. The celebrated filmmaker — known for masterpieces like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, and Pinocchio — has often described Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel as his favorite book. He’s long been fascinated by its core idea: that the monster is not born evil, but becomes feared because he cannot inspire love.
In an earlier interview, del Toro once quoted the Creature’s words: “I have such love in me, more than you can imagine. But if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear.” This tragic paradox lies at the heart of the new film — a story about humanity, rejection, and the desperate need for connection.
Del Toro’s film combines his trademark visual flair with emotional storytelling, promising an experience that’s both terrifying and deeply moving.
A Vision of Gothic Grandeur
If building a monster is like assembling a body, then del Toro is its heart. The rest of the film’s magic comes from a brilliant ensemble cast — the “arms and legs” of this cinematic creation.
Leading the cast is Oscar Isaac as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, the ambitious scientist whose desire to conquer death drives him to create life unnaturally. Jacob Elordi, fresh off Saltburn and Priscilla, transforms into the Creature — a being both majestic and tormented, wrapped in shadow and sorrow. Mia Goth, known for her performances in Pearl and X, joins the cast as a mysterious woman central to Frankenstein’s world.
Supporting them is an incredible lineup of talent: Felix Kammerer (All Quiet on the Western Front), Lars Mikkelsen (The Witcher, Ahsoka), David Bradley, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz. This powerhouse ensemble ensures that Frankenstein will be not just visually mesmerizing but also packed with stellar performances.
Faithful to Mary Shelley’s Original Vision
Del Toro’s Frankenstein remains faithful to Shelley’s groundbreaking novel, which she began writing at just 18 years old. Her creation — part science fiction, part horror, part philosophy — continues to resonate over 200 years later.
The story follows Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but obsessive scientist who gives life to a creature made from the dead. What begins as a triumph of intellect soon becomes a nightmare as Victor’s creation, rejected by society and his maker, seeks vengeance and meaning in a world that denies him both.
Del Toro has often cited Shelley as one of his lifelong inspirations. During his BAFTA acceptance speech for The Shape of Water, he honored her, saying: “The most important figure from English legacy is, incredibly, for me, a teenager named Mary Shelley. She remains a figure as important in my life as if she were family.”
A First Look: The Teaser Trailer
The newly released teaser trailer sets the stage for del Toro’s bold interpretation. It opens with Victor Frankenstein’s haunting voice — Oscar Isaac narrates:
“Some of what I will tell you is fact, some is not, but it is all true.”
From there, we glimpse eerie laboratories, candlelit halls, and the birth of the Creature — a cinematic collage of creation, madness, and melancholy. Elordi’s Creature is cloaked and scarred, evoking both terror and pity. The visuals reflect del Toro’s signature aesthetic — lush, painterly, and filled with symbolic beauty.
This first glimpse makes it clear: Frankenstein will not be a simple monster movie but a meditation on humanity’s limits, guilt, and desire for godlike power.
Behind the Scenes: A True Labor of Love
For del Toro, Frankenstein is not just another film — it’s a personal passion project. He’s been developing it for years, perfecting the script and design with the precision of an artist obsessed with every detail.
Known for his empathy toward outsiders and monsters, del Toro has described Frankenstein as the ultimate story about loneliness and acceptance. His earlier works, from Hellboy to The Shape of Water, all carry echoes of Shelley’s creature — beings that seek understanding in a world that fears them.
With this adaptation, del Toro returns to the root of his creative fascination, combining classic horror with emotional resonance and moral depth.
Visuals and Performances: A Gothic Masterpiece in Motion
The first production stills offer a glimpse of the film’s haunting aesthetic.
- Jacob Elordi appears as the Creature — tall, cloaked in a hood and scarf, his eyes piercing through the shadows.
- Oscar Isaac commands the screen as Victor Frankenstein, addressing a hall of scholars, driven by ambition and madness.
- Mia Goth dazzles in a richly detailed costume, adorned with peacock feathers and jewels, embodying the opulence of del Toro’s world.
The film’s cinematography evokes candlelight, mist, and decaying grandeur — hallmarks of Gothic horror brought to life with modern artistry.
Themes of Humanity and Hubris
Del Toro’s Frankenstein dives deep into timeless questions: What does it mean to play God? Can creation exist without compassion? And what happens when our desire to control nature turns against us?
Through these questions, the film explores both the beauty and horror of being human. Victor Frankenstein’s hubris mirrors humanity’s endless pursuit of progress — while the Creature’s suffering reflects our collective fear of rejection and isolation.
This emotional undercurrent transforms Frankenstein from a simple tale of horror into a philosophical reflection on love, loss, and identity.
Release and Streaming Details
Fans won’t have to wait long to experience del Toro’s dark masterpiece. Frankenstein will premiere in select theaters before debuting globally on Netflix on November 7.
As anticipation builds, critics and audiences alike are expecting a visually stunning, emotionally charged addition to del Toro’s celebrated filmography — one that may very well redefine how Frankenstein is remembered in cinema.