Del Toro's Frankenstein: A Decades-Long Cinematic Quest

Guillermo del Toro’s passion for Frankenstein rivals that of the story’s own mad scientist.

At Netflix’s recent preview event, the acclaimed writer-director shared a video message teasing his long-gestating adaptation of Frankenstein. While a trailer won’t debut until this summer, Netflix unveiled a first-look image featuring Oscar Isaac as the iconic, driven scientist (see above).

“This story has haunted me since childhood — for 50 years,” del Toro revealed in the video, as noted by Variety. “I’ve been working to bring it to life for over 20 years. Some might say I’m a bit consumed by Frankenstein.” He gestured to his collection of Frankenstein figures and memorabilia in his renowned Bleak House as he spoke.

Del Toro also showcased footage featuring Isaac’s Victor Frankenstein confronting Mia Goth’s poised aristocrat, alongside Jacob Elordi’s monster, described as having “long black hair, stitched gray skin, and a spark of red in his eyes.” (This footage remains exclusive for now.)

“Over the years, this character has woven itself into my soul, becoming a kind of autobiography,” del Toro added. “It’s as personal as it gets.”

The director of Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy isn’t overstating the decades-long effort to bring Frankenstein to the screen. Here’s a brief look at the prolonged journey of Netflix’s Frankenstein film…