Summary

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein film is an emotional tale about relationships, not a horror movie.
The star-studded cast includes Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth.
Fans were surprised by del Toro's non-horror approach to adapting Mary Shelley's classic novel.

Set for its featured release on Netflix in the fall of 2025, Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has received an exciting yet slightly confusing update regarding its storytelling themes. The upcoming American Gothic film, which is written and directed by del Toro, is based on Shelley's 1818 novel and aims to tell the tale of Dr. Pretorious, who adventures across Europe in search of Frankenstein’s Monster, who supposedly perished in a fire 40 years prior.

The film will have a star-studded cast, which will include Oscar Isaac (Moon Knight), Jacob Elordi (Saltburn), Mia Goth (X film series), Felix Kammerer (All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)), Lars Mikkelsen (House of Cards), David Bradley (Game of Thrones and Harry Potter), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones), and Christoph Waltz (The French Dispatch). Frankenstein has been a dream project for del Toro since 2007, when he said he "would kill to make" the movie, later stating that it would be a faithful "Miltonian tragedy" version. The director also said that he had taken inspiration from Swamp Thing's creator Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein illustrations as inspiration, and said the film would not be a direct adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel, but rather "an adventure story that involves the creature." Now, del Toro has surprised fans who had thought that Frankenstein would likely involve horror elements given its context, but this is apparently not the case.

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By Rowan Jones

Guillermo Del Toro Says His Frankenstein Adaptation Is Not a ‘Horror Film’

Guillermo del Toro Cabinet of Curiosities Netflix

Speaking at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival (via Variety), filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who many will know for films like Hellboy, The Shape of Water and Pan's Labyrinth, gave eager fans a little tease into his next endeavor with Frankenstein. Although horror fans may have thought that the gothic movie would include some horror elements, as many of its previous entries have, del Toro was quick to state that his approach towards the 1818 novel wouldn't be a horror film at all. Instead, the director said that it was an "emotional" story for him, revolving around relationships, specifically fathers and sons, and the way misunderstood beings are treated by society.

"Somebody asked me the other day, 'does it really have scary scenes?' For the first time, I considered that. It's an emotional story for me. It's as personal as anything. I'm asking a question about being a father, being a son… I'm not doing a horror movie — ever. I’m not trying to do that."

On DiscussingFilm's X post showing the news, some fans were really bewildered about del Toro's Frankenstein concept, in which they believed that the adaptation would be a horror. "Frankenstein's not a horror movie? Ok," expressed one fan, while another said, "Frankenstein" "not doing a horror movie"...Interesting take". A third confused fan stated, "Only del Toro could look at Frankenstein and see a father, a son, and a soul asking to be held, not feared." However, even though it's understandable that some fans may wonder why del Toro would opt to go down this narrative route rather than the horror path, Mary Shelley's classic novel wasn't, at its heart, a horror either, but more the horrors of human nature and loneliness, first and foremost.

In an interview with Total Film last year, Mai Goth discussed working with del Toro on Frankenstein, expressing her love for the creative director. "It's been amazing. It's everything I wanted it to be and more. I love Guillermo. I love working with him, he's an incredible director, everyone knows that, but he's also just like such a wonderful person and, yeah, I'm very excited."

Frankenstein is currently slated to premiere on Netflix this November.

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