Oscar ‌Isaac Revives Frankenstein Through a Taoist, Latin American Lens

Oscar Isaac ‌revealed a ​surprising and deeply emotional journey to his role as Victor Frankenstein in ​Guillermo del Toro‘s upcoming adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel. ‍The project began with an unexpected proposition from del Toro, who‌ simply​ told Isaac, “you need⁣ to play Victor.” Initially skeptical – questioning if del Toro was experiencing a medical event or employing a unique approach to casting – Isaac’s reservations dissolved as ​del Toro began developing​ the script over the following year.

Del Toro gifted⁤ Isaac both Shelley’s frankenstein ​ and the Tao ⁣Te⁢ Ching as foundational texts for the ‌role, emphasizing‍ a⁢ philosophical ⁤approach to the story. Isaac recounted a pivotal moment reading the completed script, particularly the ending, which focuses on forgiveness and moving forward ‌after heartbreak,⁢ resulting in tears for both himself and del Toro.

Isaac described ⁢del Toro as a “Taoist filmmaker,” noting the director’s tendency ‌toward a “God’s-eye ⁤view” of reality and a belief in an underlying “loving universe” even ‌amidst pain. this outlook informed del Toro’s take on the archetypal Frankenstein narrative, delving into “Jungian type of shadow psyches.”

The production itself ⁢was characterized ⁢by‌ joy and lightness, despite⁣ the dark subject⁢ matter. Isaac ​shared that del Toro ‌frequently directed ⁤him “in dirty jokes” and they communicated primarily​ in Spanish. he further explained the project as an “emotional Mexican melodrama” and a “very European story told in​ an extremely ⁢Latin point of ‌view,” highlighting the deliberate inclusion of his full‍ name – Oscar Isaac Hernández – ⁢as a ⁣key element ​of the character.

isaac also discussed his acting process, describing himself as‌ “gullible” and⁢ driven by⁢ a need to “believe” in the story, a tendency he traced back to a religiously-rooted upbringing.