I can see why Warner Bros. might have been nervous about this one.
We’ve finally got our first real glimpse at Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride” with a two-minute teaser trailer — and, honestly, what did I just watch? A Bonnie-and-Clyde-inspired Frankenstein story? Avant-garde visuals? Whatever it is, I can’t say I’m not intrigued.
Here’s the synopsis:
A lonely Frankenstein (Bale) travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronious (five-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening) to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and The Bride (Buckley) is born. What ensues is beyond what either of them imagined: Murder! Possession! A wild and radical cultural movement! And outlaw lovers in a wild and combustible romance!
Back in February, Puck’s Matt Belloni reported that “The Bride!” had tested poorly, prompting Warner Bros. to intervene. The situation became serious enough that Warners’ co-head Pamela Abdy was brought in to “get the film into shape” for its initial fall 2025 release — though word was she struggled with it. Unsurprisingly, just a month later, the studio bumped the release to March 6, 2026, where it currently remains.
Since then, it seems Gyllenhaal and Warners have landed on the version they wanted. Post-production is complete, and the MPA has handed down an R rating for “strong/bloody violent content, sexual content/nudity, and language.”
More recently, Gyllenhaal and Warners finally found the version of the film they wanted. The film completed post-production and received an MPA rating — R for “strong/bloody violent content, sexual content/nudity and language.”
How Gyllenhaal — with just one feature under her belt — convinced Warners to bankroll a $100M R-rated semi-musical is anyone’s guess. But credit where it’s due: she pulled it off. The film boasts an impressive cast that includes Peter Sarsgaard, Christian Bale, Jessie Buckley, Annette Bening, Penélope Cruz, John Mulaney, and Jake Gyllenhaal. It’s described as a loose reimagining of James Whale’s 1935 “Bride of Frankenstein,” itself a sequel to the 1931 classic.
Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut, Netflix’s 2021 drama “The Lost Daughter,” was a critical breakthrough, earning three Oscar nominations and winning her Best Screenplay at Venice. With “The Bride,” she looks to make an even bolder statement.
