Guillermo del Toro has become one of the most prolific names in the horror industry, and his upcoming adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein might just be his best yet.
From Mimic to Pinocchio, del Toro has demonstrated time and time again his incredible gift for creature features. Of course, it's no surprise that Frankenstein would be his biggest passion project, and a recent interview has the director reflecting on his career.
This week, Vanity Fair shared several production photos of the new horror flick coming to Netflix, revealing images of Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as his monster.
The article shared that a Frankenstein film had long been a bucket list project for del Toro, but he had been denied time and time again until Netflix gave the OK. Now, the director takes on a bittersweet tone while discussing his career.
“I’ve been doing movies for 30 years. I’m not going to be alive for 30 [more] years, I don’t think,” says del Toro, who’s now 60.
Although the remark was likely a general "getting older" statement, it was enough to make this writer's radar perk up. While we cannot say for certain at this time, it could allude to del Toro retiring or stepping away from the industry after he completes his passion project.
To reiterate, nothing has been said at the time of writing about del Toro's future, but Frankenstein would be an appropriate film to cap off his already prolific career. Given the director's portfolio of creature features, it would make sense for him to end it with the grandaddy of all monsters.
The filmmaker has taken us into faerie labyrinths with wily old fauns, fought Nazi sorcerers with Hellboy and Abe, and summoned the beautifully grotesque spirits that haunt Crimson Peak. It was only a matter of time before a dead monstrosity was brought to life at Castle Frankenstein.
In this writer's opinion, del Toro is beyond qualified to give this film the adaptation that Mary Shelley's work so rightly deserves. It's more than just knowing how to make a good monster movie, but understanding who these creatures are deep down in their souls. That's why the message of Frankenstein makes this project del Toro's magnum opus.
Frankenstein hits Netflix in November 2025.