Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is still hard at work on his long sought after adaptation of Mary Shelley‘s groundbreaking novel, “Frankenstein.” The project has added Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz to the star-studded cast. And the announcement was made in a very del Toro way.
After a recent 10th anniversary IMAX 3D screening of “Pacific Rim,” the director did an exclusive Q&A. When asked about the upcoming horror movie, he made the announcement.
“I’m doing Frankenstein. We’re working on it,” del Toro responded. “We start shooting in February, and it’s a movie I have been wanting to do for 50 years since I saw the first Frankenstein. I had an epiphany, and it’s basically a movie that required a lot of growth and a lot of tools that I couldn’t have done 10 years ago. Now I’m brave or crazy enough or something, and we’re gonna tackle it. It’s Oscar Isaac, Andrew Garfield, Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth, and we’re working on it.”
So del Toro just casually slipped Waltz in among the already confirmed cast like it was no big thing. The pair recently worked together on the filmmaker’s stop-motion adaptation of “Pinocchio.” Where the actor portrayed the ruthless Count Volpe.
It is unknown who Waltz, or any of the cast, will be playing in “Frankenstein.” But as del Toro said, he has been wanting to make this movie for 50 years, citing Shelley’s work as his “favorite novel in the world.” And we’ve seen its influence all over his work already in the form of likable/sympathetic “monsters.” Like 2017’s Best Picture winner “The Shape of Water” and 2006’s “Pan’s Labyrinth.”
Even his take on “Pinocchio” took a much darker tone than previous adaptations. Underscoring how the tale has Gepetto playing God to try and resurrect his son in a less-than-human form. You know, like Victor Frankenstein did with his criminally cobbled-together version of the Vitruvian man.
Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is being developed by Netflix, whom he has previously collaborated with on “Pinocchio” and the horror anthology “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.” The upcoming movie will also have him joining forces once again with renowned composer Alexandre Desplat for the score. As well as producer Gary Ungar, whom he collaborated with on the two aforementioned Netflix-developed projects. It seems like del Toro is building a team that will help him continue to bring dark, fantastical, stories to life.
“Frankenstein,” is slated to begin filming in February. We’ll keep you posted on updates about the project as they become available.
