Frankenstein: A Brief Timeline of Guillermo del Toro’s 20-Years-in-the-Making Horror Movie

Guillermo del Toro's passion for Frankenstein rivals even Dr. Frankenstein's own obsession. During Netflix's recent preview event, a video message from the writer-director offered a tantalizing glimpse into his long-awaited adaptation. While a trailer won't arrive until summer, Netflix unveiled a first-look image of Oscar Isaac as the iconic mad scientist.

"This film has been in my mind since childhood—for 50 years," del Toro shared, as reported by Variety. "I've been trying to make it for 20 to 25 years. In fact, some people may even think I'm a little bit obsessed with Frankenstein." He gestured to the numerous Frankenstein collectibles adorning his dedicated "Frankenstein room" in his Bleak House.

Del Toro also showcased exclusive footage featuring Isaac's Victor Frankenstein confronting Mia Goth, portraying a seemingly affluent aristocrat, and Jacob Elordi as Frankenstein's monster—described as possessing "long black hair, stitched-up gray skin, and a glint of red in his eyes." This footage remains unavailable online.

"Over the decades, the character has fused with my soul in a way that it has become an autobiography," del Toro explained. "It doesn’t get more personal than this."

The acclaimed director of Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy isn't exaggerating his decades-long pursuit of bringing Frankenstein to the screen. The journey to Netflix's Frankenstein movie has been anything but brief…