Guillermo Del Toro Says ‘Frankenstein’ Will Not Be a Horror Movie

“It’s an emotional story for me.”

Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein in one of the first images released from del Toro’s upcoming adaptation.

Guillermo del Toro is a three-time Academy Award-winning director known for his gothic approach to storytelling. He is responsible for horror movies like Cronos (1992), The Devil’s Backbone (2001) and Crimson Peak (2015) among others. He also created the Netflix anthology series Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.

Del Toro’s next project is an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein which will hit Netflix in November 2025. Currently IMDB lists the film’s genres as horror, science fiction and drama. However, the director recently told Variety that he doesn’t view his Frankenstein as a horror movie. “It’s an emotional story for me. It’s as personal as anything. I’m asking a question about being a father, being a son… I’m not doing a horror movie — ever. I’m not trying to do that.”

Del Toro’s Frankenstein synopsis reads: “A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.” It stars Jacob Elordi as the monster, Mia Goth as Elizabeth and Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein.

Del Toro’s picture isn’t the only upcoming adaptation of Frankenstein. Maggie Gyllenhaal is also making a star-studded Frankenstein centered film, The Bride, about a companion for the monster. The release date for The Bride is currently March 6, 2026.

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Chrissy is the co-founder of Creepy Catalog. She has over 10 years of experience writing about horror, a degree in philosophy and Reiki level II certification.

Chrissy Stockton