Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited Frankenstein movie is coming to Netflix in November 2025, and the first images reveal Jacob Elordi as the iconic monster. The Euphoria and Saltburn star steps into the role after Andrew Garfield exited due to scheduling conflicts. The film also stars Oscar Isaac as Dr. Victor Frankenstein and features a star-studded cast including Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance.
Del Toro calls this his dream project, a passion he has pursued for over 25 years. The movie is not just a horror film but a deep exploration of father-son relationships, creation, and suffering. The director describes it as an emotional and personal story rather than a traditional monster movie.
Jacob Elordi’s Unique Take On The Monster
Elordi’s version of Frankenstein’s monster is unlike any before. Instead of the classic square-headed, bolt-necked look made famous by Boris Karloff, Elordi’s creature resembles a shattered marble statue pieced back together. The design was completely reworked in just nine weeks after Garfield’s departure.
“Andrew Garfield stepping out and Jacob coming in. I mean, it was like Jacob is the most perfect actor for the creature,” del Toro told Vanity Fair. “And we have a supernaturally good connection. It’s like, very few words. Very few things I have to say, and he does it.”
Makeup artist Mike Hill praised Elordi’s physicality, describing his “gangly elegance” and haunting gaze. At 6 feet 5 inches tall, Elordi brings a mix of innocence and danger to the role. His performance is expected to be both terrifying and deeply emotional.
A New Spin On Mary Shelley’s Classic
Del Toro’s Frankenstein is not a direct adaptation but a reimagining that blends elements from Shelley’s novel and the 1930s films. The story focuses on toxic family dynamics, particularly between Dr. Frankenstein and his creation.
“It’s parents and children,” Elordi said. “Fathers and sons, particularly.”
The film also draws from Catholic imagery, with the monster’s birth scene resembling a crucifixion. Del Toro connects the creature’s suffering to the Book of Job, where a man questions why bad things happen to good people.
Behind The Scenes Of The Gruesome Set
The movie’s Toronto set was filled with severed limbs, organs, and cadavers made from realistic props. Oscar Isaac, playing Dr. Frankenstein, worked on assembling the monster’s body in a gothic laboratory set inside an 18th-century water tower.
Del Toro and Isaac shared a dark sense of humor on set, often joking in Spanish to lighten the mood. The director compared bone surgery to carpentry, calling it “traumatology” due to its brutal nature.
“I think instead of calling myself an actor, I’m going to introduce myself as a traumatologist,” Isaac joked during filming.
A Star-Studded Cast And Global Release
Alongside Elordi and Isaac, the film features Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza, Christoph Waltz as Dr. Pretorius, and Charles Dance as Victor’s father. The movie will premiere at the Venice Film Festival before streaming on Netflix in November.
Del Toro’s previous work, including Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, shows his love for monsters and dark fairy tales. His Frankenstein is expected to be another visually stunning and thought-provoking film.
Why This Film Matters To Del Toro
The director has called Frankenstein his bucket-list project, something he has wanted to make since childhood. He sees the story as a biography of his own life, reflecting his fascination with creation, destruction, and monsters.
“Monsters have become my personal belief system,” del Toro said at a Netflix event. “Exploring the relationship between humanity and monsters, creator and creation, father and son, has consumed my stories again and again.”
With Elordi’s haunting performance and del Toro’s visionary direction, this Frankenstein could become one of the most memorable adaptations yet.
Also read: Netflix 2025 Slate: ‘Frankenstein,’ ‘Knives Out 3,’ and a Missing Eleven
Credits: Sources include Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, IndieWire, Variety, and other entertainment news reports.
