Oscar Isaac on Working with Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro's upcoming adaptation of Frankenstein is shaping up to be the kind of gothic event that feels both familiar and fresh. For starters, the film pairs the director's established taste for operatic melancholy with a faithful story at its core. Which, obviously, includes an ambitious scientist, a creation born in pain, and the wreckage that follows when a maker rejects what he made. Netflix is even backing it with a rare theatrical bow before its streaming release, becoming a clear signal that this is ultimately meant to play big on a big screen.
Frankenstein (2025) | Photo Credit: Netflix
Frankenstein Star Praises the Film's Director
Now, Oscar Isaac, who stars as Victor Frankenstein, recently described the shoot's mix of darkness and giddy energy in SFX Magazine, telling the outlet, "Running around in the rain, up and down steps, this Christ-like thing on a crucifix and Guillermo in the corner, screaming! It was hard to fathom that it was actually happening. It's such dark material, but was approached with so much joy. Like 14-year-olds had keys to the kingdom; it had that kind of energy to it."
The premise was designed to stay close to Mary Shelley's novel. A brilliant, egotistical scientist pushes past mortal limits, assembles a being from the dead (Frankenstein), and sparks a chain of love, rejection, and revenge that consumes them both. Though in this version of the story, Del Toro's version is also said to avoid claiming the typical horror genre label. Jacob Elordi plays the Creature, with Mia Goth as Elizabeth and Christoph Waltz as an original character, often teased as a powerful patron who nudges Victor's ambitions. The ensemble also features names like Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Convery, and Charles Dance.
With an intricate release structure planned (from early festival premieres to unexpected theatrical runs) and a timeless story to pull ideas from, Frankenstein has some real Nosferatu potential for success. Plus, with Del Toro helming the film, longtime fans know that they can expect a film that is grand, tactile, and unafraid to challenge audiences in unique ways.
Frankenstein drops in select theaters get it on October 17, 2025, with a Netflix debut on November 7.
