If you’re directing a passion project you’ve had stuck in your head since childhood, you might as well go all out on it. That’s certainly what Guillermo del Toro is doing with “Frankenstein.”
His adaptation is officially headed to the fall festival circuit, and it’s already positioning itself as one of the most significant premieres of the season. The film will make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, followed shortly after by a stop at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). One notable absence: Telluride, which the film is skipping entirely.
It’ll be an ambitious film. Clocking in at a hefty 2 hours and 29 minutes, “Frankenstein” is only one minute shorter than his last live-action, 2021’s “Nightmare Alley.”
The film, produced by Netflix, reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic novel through del Toro’s signature Gothic horror lens. The casting is loaded: Oscar Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi stars as the Creature, and Mia Goth continues her genre streak in a pivotal role. The film has been rated R for “bloody violence and grisly images,” further evidence that del Toro won’t be soft-pedaling his story.
Skipping Telluride is a notable move. The festival is often a launchpad for major Oscar contenders, but it either got rejected, or Netflix may be going for a different strategy here. Venice offers prestige and critical clout, while TIFF provides audience momentum.
As previously stated, this is del Toro’s passion project, decades in the making. He’s called Shelley’s novel “the most important book of his life,” and early reports suggest the film emphasizes the emotional and philosophical weight of the story just as much as the horror.
“Frankenstein” is eyeing a November 2025 release via Netflix.