Guillermo del Toro Tailored ‘Frankenstein‘ Lab & Creature Design Around Jacob Elordi’s Physique
Guillermo del Toro’s forthcoming Frankenstein adaptation wasn’t simply a faithful retelling of Mary Shelley’s novel; it was meticulously engineered around the physical presence of its star, Jacob Elordi. The director and production designer Tom Dale collaborated to build a sprawling, multi-layered Frankenstein’s lab and craft a creature whose scale and movements were intrinsically linked to Elordi’s six-foot-five frame.
The film, currently in post-production for Netflix, represents a significant undertaking for del toro, initially considered as a potential two-part cinematic event before being consolidated into a two-and-a-half-hour feature. This commitment to a singular vision, coupled with a purposeful minimization of CGI, demanded practical effects and set pieces that accommodated Elordi’s stature, influencing everything from the lab’s architecture to the creature’s articulation. The project’s success hinges on delivering a fresh outlook on the classic tale, prioritizing the monster’s point of view-a key element del Toro emphasized to ensure the creature’s voice and physicality were central to the narrative.
Dale revealed the Frankenstein lab was constructed as a complex structure comprising eight distinct sets. “The giant exterior was built on the fairground, where we made the carnival for ’Nightmare Alley,'” Dale stated. thes sets included a foyer lobby, the evolving lab itself, visitor quarters, the tower’s summit, the monster’s lair, and a water chute-described as a “not such a subtle metaphor for a birth canal.” The exterior, requiring four months of construction and three days of filming, served as the foundational element for the tower. Handmade miniatures were also utilized to further minimize reliance on computer-generated imagery, upholding del Toro’s preference for tangible craftsmanship.
Del Toro’s dedication to Shelley’s original work extended to giving the creature a voice and agency. “He does identify with monsters,” Dale explained. “He wanted to make sure to get the creature’s point of view. That’s unique about our film. He speaks and articulates.” This focus on the creature’s perspective, combined with Elordi’s imposing physical presence, promises a Frankenstein adaptation that redefines the iconic monster for a contemporary audience.
