Key Highlights
- Jacob Elordi stars as the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel.
- The role required intricate prosthetics and makeup, transforming Elordi into a monster with complex emotions.
- Del Toro has long been fascinated by making a version of “Frankenstein,” which finally came to fruition after years of preparation.
- Elordi’s deep-dive into the character allowed him to explore themes of identity, purpose, and emotional depth.
From Curse to Calling: Jacob Elordi’s Journey as the Creature
For Jacob Elordi, playing the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” was more than just a role—it was an exploration into his very essence. The actor, born in Australia and recently known for roles in “Euphoria” and “Saltburn,” found himself drawn to the part by an almost mystical force.
“Early in my career, I had been reading what folks on the internet would say about me and someone had written after my first film, ‘The only thing this plank of wood could play is Frankenstein’s Creature. Get him off my screen!’” Elordi recalls with a laugh. “I went, ‘That’s an absolutely fantastic idea.’
The Role as a Transformational Experience
Elordi’s journey into the role was both physically and emotionally demanding. The actor spent six months in full makeup, undergoing 10-hour sessions daily to embody the Creature. For makeup artist Mike Hill, the challenge lay not just in creating a believable monster but in bringing depth and humanity to the character.
“The most complex element of the performance is playing ‘nothing,’ meaning the blank, pure state of mind of a living being in infancy,” Elordi explains. “A baby is everything at once: deep pain, deep joy, curiosity. And you don’t have chambers for your thoughts yet.”
Hill’s design for the Creature involved intricate prosthetics and makeup to create a marble-statue-like appearance with subtle flesh tones that exuded beauty without scars or vulgarity.
Del Toro’s Vision and the Making of the Monster
Director Guillermo del Toro has long fantasized about making his own version of “Frankenstein.” His vision for the Creature is unique, blending elements from Taoist philosophy with a physical appearance that reflects both beauty and vulnerability. Del Toro’s approach involved sending Elordi several books to prepare, including the “Tao Te Ching,” Stephen Mitchell’s translation of the Book of Job, and texts on baby development.
Del Toro was convinced from their initial Zoom call that Elordi would be perfect for the role. “I don’t think I’ve experienced miracles many times in my life,” he says. “And when somebody comes to your life in any capacity that transforms it, that happened here. This man is a miracle for this film.”
The role allowed Elordi to delve into profound themes of identity and purpose. “The part entailed physically burying himself in another body,” Elordi says. “It was an exploration into every experience with my father, with my mother, my experience with cinema, my scraped knees when I was 7.”
A New Lease on Life: The Impact of the Role
For Elordi, the role of the Creature was more than just a performance. It was a transformative experience that allowed him to confront deep-seated questions about his identity and purpose. “The part entailed physically burying himself in another body,” he says. “It was an exploration into every experience with my father, with my mother, my experience with cinema, my scraped knees when I was 7.”
Elordi’s deep-dive into the character not only shaped his performance but also provided a therapeutic outlet for personal challenges. “At that time in my life, I really wanted to hide,” he says. “I really wanted to go away for a while. I was desperate to find some kind of normalcy and rebuild the way that I acted and how I approached making movies.”
Del Toro’s vision for the film is not just about creating a monster but also about exploring the complexities of human nature. “They’re almost like John Milton questions to the creator,” he says. “You have to give it a physicality that is heartbreakingly uncanny but also hypnotically human.”
“Frankenstein” is set for release in theaters on Friday and will be available on Netflix starting November 7, 2025.
It promises to be a compelling exploration of the classic tale through the lens of Guillermo del Toro’s unique vision.
Guillermo del Toro‘s “Frankenstein”, released in theaters and on Netflix this November, marks a significant chapter in both his and Jacob Elordi’s careers. The film is not just an adaptation but a deep dive into the human condition, wrapped in intricate makeup and prosthetics that bring to life one of literature’s most enduring characters.
