Frankenstein: A Brief Timeline of Guillermo del Toro’s 20-Years-in-the-Making Horror Movie

Guillermo del Toro's lifelong fascination with Frankenstein rivals even the iconic Dr. Frankenstein himself. A recent Netflix preview showcased a first-look image of Oscar Isaac as the titular mad scientist in del Toro's long-awaited adaptation (see above).

In a video message, del Toro revealed his decades-long dedication to the project, stating, "This film has been on my mind since I was a child—for 50 years. I’ve been trying to make it for 20 to 25 years. In fact, some people may even think I am a little bit obsessed with Frankenstein." He underscored this by gesturing to his extensive Frankenstein collection within his Bleak House.

Limited footage shown included Isaac's Victor Frankenstein confronting Mia Goth, portraying a wealthy aristocrat, and Jacob Elordi as Frankenstein's monster, described as having "long black hair, stitched-up gray skin, and a glint of red in his eyes." This footage remains unavailable online.

Del Toro further emphasized the project's personal significance, explaining, "Over the decades, the character has fused with my soul in a way that it has become an autobiography. It doesn’t get more personal than this."

The director's claim of a lengthy development process is no hyperbole. The journey to bring Netflix's Frankenstein to the screen has been exceptionally protracted, a testament to del Toro's profound connection with the source material.