Los Angeles, US | July 30, 2025: Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic classic, ‘Frankenstein,’ is finally taking definitive shape, but not without a dramatic behind-the-scenes shift. The Oscar-winning director, known for his masterful ability to transform monsters into profound, mythic figures, has recast the film’s titular creature, a decision that, according to him, may have led to an even more compelling portrayal than initially conceived.
Jacob Elordi, best known for his role in HBO’s Euphoria, has stepped into the iconic role of Frankenstein’s monster, replacing Andrew Garfield. Garfield’s departure was necessitated by scheduling conflicts arising from the protracted 2023 Hollywood strikes. This presented a significant challenge, as del Toro and his trusted makeup artist Mike Hill had already dedicated nine months to meticulously crafting Garfield’s version of the creature.
In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, del Toro revealed the intense pressure of the situation. “I mean, it was like Jacob is the most perfect actor for the creature,” del Toro stated, expressing his immediate connection with Elordi. “And we have a supernaturally good connection. It’s like, very few words. Very few things I have to say, and he does it.”
Elordi’s casting brings a distinct physicality to the role. Towering at 6’5″ (196 cm), his height offers a stark contrast to Garfield’s 5’10” (178 cm) frame, fundamentally reframing the creature not merely as a monster, but as something tragically human. Hill lauded Elordi’s unique attributes, noting, “What attracted me to him was his gangliness and his wrists. It was this looseness.” He added, “Then he has these real sombre moments where he watches you really deftly, and his eyelids are low, with the long lashes like Karloff. I was like, ‘I don’t know who else you could get with a physicality like this.’” The reference to Boris Karloff, who famously portrayed the monster in the 1931 classic, hints at the kind of haunting stillness Elordi is expected to bring to the character.
Del Toro echoed this sentiment, likening the serendipitous casting to director Richard Donner’s legendary discovery of Christopher Reeve for ‘Superman.’ “He said, ‘I eventually had to pray to God to bring me Superman with Christopher Reeve,’” Hill recalled. “When Guillermo suggested Jacob, his own prayers were answered.”
Despite the last-minute change forcing the team to completely rebuild their creature design in just nine weeks, the intense pressure seemingly led to an unexpected creative breakthrough. “We recast, and we had nine weeks,” del Toro confirmed. “You can’t be under more pressure than that.”
Elordi’s portrayal of the monster is anticipated to be a nuanced blend of tenderness and terror. “His demeanour is innocent,” Hill remarked, “but it’s encompassed in a six-foot-five frame. He could really do a lot of damage if this man really wanted to be a bad guy.”
Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ promises to be a haunting and deeply human interpretation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance. As del Toro continues to shape what he describes as his most ambitious gothic vision yet, it appears he has found not just a creature, but a profound muse, in Jacob Elordi. The film is set to premiere on July 17, 2026.