Guillermo del Toro has never shied away from monsters, but his version of Frankenstein won’t be chasing screams. Speaking during a Cannes Film Festival conversation with composer Alexandre Desplat, the filmmaker revealed that his upcoming adaptation for Netflix is deeply personal — a story not of terror, but of tenderness. "I’m not doing a horror movie — ever," he said, stressing that his take focuses less on fear and more on the emotional fabric of being a father, a son, and a creator.
Desplat, who’s composing the score for Frankenstein after previous collaborations with del Toro on The Shape of Water and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, echoed the sentiment. The project is still in development, but both artists are committed to finding what del Toro calls "the emotion" at the core of the tale. For him, it’s not about reanimating a classic monster — it’s about reanimating the meaning behind it.
The director’s affinity for misunderstood creatures is well established, from Cronos to Hellboy to the award-winning Shape of Water. "In Shape of Water, the creature is frightening during the first 15 minutes and then becomes a very moving character," Desplat noted — a pattern del Toro seems poised to repeat. Frankenstein, it seems, will be less about bolts in the neck and more about hearts on sleeves.
The cast includes Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, and Mia Goth — a trio likely to bring equal parts gravitas and sensitivity to the screen. The film is expected to arrive on Netflix this autumn. And while the lightning may flash, don’t expect the usual thunder. This is Frankenstein with a soul.
