Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” Makes Grand Debut at Venice Film Festival on Mary Shelley’s Birthday

On a date that couldn’t be more fitting, Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated adaptation of “Frankenstein” had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival today, August 30, 2025 - exactly 228 years after Mary Shelley’s birth, now celebrated as Frankenstein Day.

Star-Studded Venice Premiere Launches Awards Campaign

The premiere marked the beginning of what industry insiders expect to be a major awards season push for the Netflix production. Oscar Isaac, who portrays the ambitious scientist Victor Frankenstein, and Jacob Elordi, who transforms into the iconic creature, walked the red carpet alongside director del Toro and co-stars including Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz.

During Saturday’s press conference at the Venice festival, del Toro revealed his deep personal connection to the project, stating, “It’s the movie that I’ve been in training for 30 years to do”. The acclaimed director, whose previous Venice entry “The Shape of Water” won the festival’s top prize in 2017 before claiming Best Picture and Best Director Oscars, described feeling like he’s experiencing “postpartum depression” after completing this passion project.

Elordi’s Transformative Performance Takes Center Stage

Jacob Elordi opened up about his intensive preparation for the role during the press conference, revealing he underwent 10 hours of daily makeup to become the creature. The 28-year-old actor described his performance in deeply personal terms: “It was a vessel that I could put every part of myself into. From the moment that I was born to being here with you today, all of it is in that character. And in so many ways, the creature that’s on screen in this movie is the sort of purest form of myself. He’s more me than I am”.

The physical transformation involved multiple layers of costume and makeup, with Elordi explaining how the creature’s posture evolves throughout the film: “When he’s born, he’s wearing nearly nothing. His chest is open and his head is high. Then, as he starts to experience pain, as we do as a teenager, he starts to hunch his shoulders. And as an adult, he closes off”.

Del Toro’s Vision Brings Fresh Perspective to Classic Tale

Del Toro emphasized his commitment to presenting the story with contemporary relevance while respecting Shelley’s original vision. “When [Shelley] penned Frankenstein, it was not intended as a period piece. It was a modern narrative, so I aimed to avoid a pastel-hued historical depiction,” the director explained. Instead, he opted for bold, vibrant colors and rich designs to bring the 19th-century European setting to life.

The film explores themes that have long fascinated del Toro, particularly the question of who the true monster is in the story. “Mary Shelley’s masterpiece is filled with profound questions that resonate deeply within me: existential, tender, brutal, and hopeless inquiries that only ignite in a youthful mind,” del Toro shared.

Competition and Release Schedule

“Frankenstein” is competing for top honors at Venice alongside films from renowned directors including Yorgos Lanthimos, Kathryn Bigelow, and Park Chan-wook. The Alexander Payne-led jury will announce winners on September 6.

Following its Venice premiere, the film will have a limited theatrical release beginning October 17, 2025, before arriving on Netflix globally on November 7, 2025. The theatrical engagement follows Netflix’s strategy for awards consideration, similar to del Toro’s previous project “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” which won the streamer its first Best Animated Feature Oscar.

A Perfect Date for Gothic Horror

The timing of today’s premiere on Frankenstein Day adds symbolic weight to the event. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was born on August 30, 1797, and wrote her groundbreaking novel in 1816, publishing it in 1818. The holiday celebrating both the author and her creation provided an ideal backdrop for del Toro’s interpretation of the classic tale.

With a runtime of 2 hours and 29 minutes and an R rating for bloody violence and grisly images, del Toro’s “Frankenstein” promises to be both a visual spectacle and an emotionally resonant exploration of creation, humanity, and what it truly means to be a monster.