Oscar Isaac Headlines Venice Premiere Amid Anti-War Protest

Lead Oscar Isaac led the red carpet at Venice’s world premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” as an anti-war march concluded near the festival venue on Sept. 6, spotlighting Gaza solidarity.

Nut Graf The premiere of del Toro’s long-awaited adaptation marks the start of a major awards-season push, with Isaac portraying Victor Frankenstein. Simultaneously, organizers and attendees amplified calls for peace in Gaza, underscoring cinema’s role in global discourse.

Main Part Oscar Isaac and co-star Jacob Elordi arrived on Lido Island to herald Netflix’s October release of “Frankenstein,” drawing industry luminaries and photographers to the historic Sala Grande. An anti-war demonstration, timed to coincide with the premiere evening, ended just steps from the red carpet, as activists sought to shift attention from Hollywood glamour to the Gaza conflict. Netflix is banking on “Frankenstein” to bolster its awards credentials, following del Toro’s Oscar win for “Pinocchio” and the festival triumph of “The Shape of Water” in 2017. Isaac’s portrayal of the obsessive scientist concludes a decades-long dream project for del Toro, who has described the film as his “30-year training” in adapting Mary Shelley’s classic. The world premiere sets the stage for Venice’s award announcements on Saturday night, with prizes to be decided by an Alexander Payne-led jury and revealed during the closing ceremony.