The new Frankenstein adaptation, directed by Guillermo Del Toro and starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, is officially out!
So, here’s just some of what went into creating the spectacle:
1.
Guillermo was a child the first time he read Frankenstein, but it took three decades (and a $120 million price tag) for the movie to come to life.
2.
Oscar was the first choice for Frankenstein, before a screenplay even existed. When there was one, Guillermo had him read 30 pages from the script in a hotel room — yes, every part.
3.
Andrew Garfield, who is significantly shorter than Jacob, was originally cast as the creature — but, due to scheduling conflicts, had to drop out just nine weeks before production.
4.
Coincidentally, when it came time for him to recast, both Guillermo’s daughter and the CEO of Netflix suggested that he watch Saltburn and Priscilla.
5.
Guillermo wound up casting Oscar and Jacob for the same reason: “Eyes. I cast the eyes.”
6.
Guillermo, who is Mexican, and Oscar, who was born in Guatemala, would speak to each other in Spanish on set. The director would sometimes use the melodramatic tone of telenovelas as a reference.
7.
Guillermo designed the creature to resemble an “anatomical chart” and was partially inspired by a 16th-century statue of St. Bartholomew (the apostle that was flayed).
8.
The creature is also frequently compared to Jesus and intentionally created on a cross-like apparatus.
9.
In the original novel, it’s not specified exactly how Frankenstein built the creature — but Guillermo wanted to go, limb by limb, into the detail of it all.
10.
Jacob would sometimes arrive at the makeup trailer at 10 p.m. and have to stay up all night as the creature makeup was applied.
11.
And Jacob maintained that his dog wasn’t put off by the creature makeup.
12.
The creature’s movements were inspired by a slow Japanese dance style called butoh. For his voice, he listened to Mongolian throat singing and practiced his lines while wearing his fake teeth.
13.
Finally, Frankenstein’s movements were closer to those of a rockstar, with Guillermo instructing Oscar to be “more Mick Jagger.”
What did you make of the movie? LMK in the comments!
