Mexican writer and director Guillermo del Toro, a three-time Academy Award winner, has always been drawn to horror and fairy tales to bring lyrical or visual beauty to the macabre. He has so far delivered some highly esteemed films, such as Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy, The Devil’s Backbone, and others. Now, Frankenstein, his upcoming adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 horror classic novel, will fall into a similar genre.
The 59-year-old filmmaker puts his heart and soul into his work; his new upcoming project, Frankenstein, has brought him to the somewhat unsettling building in Glasgow, Scotland. Yes, he recently braved a trip to a haunted Madelaine Smith home in Glasgow in search of inspiration and to let loose his otherworldly inventiveness.
Guillermo Del Toro Pays A Visit To A Haunted Glasgow Building
This week, Guillermo del Toro was seen in Glasgow, apparently scouting potential locations for his Frankenstein movie. That being said, it makes sense that the Oscar-winning director also paid a visit to a structure that has a haunted past because, as we know, he is a master of macabre entertainment.
He was pictured outside 7 Blythswood Square in Scotland, which is thought to be haunted by Madeleine Smith’s ghost (as per Amicus Horror). According to history, in 1857, socialite Smith was charged with the murder of Pierre Emile L’Angelier, her secret lover. The Devil’s Backbone director posted the following on Twitter:
Here I stand in front of the Madelaine Smith home in Glasgow. Which was meticulously recreated by David Lean in his “wedding hift” eponymous film for Ann Todd. pic.twitter.com/Ub3gvxfMwf
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 8, 2023
In his post on X, he mentioned that the building was replicated for David Lean’s 1950 masterpiece Madeleine, which dramatized the events leading up to Smith’s court date. Furthermore, after exploring the rumoredly haunted building, Del Toro stopped by Mharsanta in the Merchant City for a plate of delectable food. He even grinned for a quick picture with the employees, who were overjoyed to have “Hollywood A lister” dining at their restaurant.
We were delighted to welcome the fantastic Guillermo Del Toro to Mharsanta today. It’s not every day a ‘Hollywood A lister’ visits! pic.twitter.com/ipAhAMCG43
— Mharsanta (@mharsanta) November 8, 2023
Who Are the Top Picks to Star in Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein?
Deadline has learned that Oscar Isaac, Andrew Garfield, and Mia Goth are in the early stages of negotiations to be the stars of Netflix’s Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro. Insiders with knowledge of the film issue a warning, saying that del Toro is still rewriting the script and that no actors have received formal offers. Nonetheless, he has met with all three, and they are reportedly all willing to star in the upcoming flick.
Del Toro has been working on the Frankenstein project for some time now, and he has always wanted to make a movie based on the classic Mary Shelley novel. It is unclear if his version would take place in the present era or during a historical period. In addition to writing the screenplay and story, the Mexican filmmaker will be directing the movie.
The Oscar-winning director claims that Frankenstein is a passion project and that it has taken years to complete, speaking with Collider:
“…it’s a movie I have been wanting to do for 50 years since I saw the first Frankenstein. I had an epiphany, and it’s basically a movie that required a lot of growth and a lot of tools that I couldn’t have done 10 years ago. Now I’m brave or crazy enough and, and, and we’re gonna tackle it.”
Thus, Goth, Isaac, and Garfield have all met with the director and agreed to star in this Netflix film. Goth is rumored to play Dr. Frankenstein’s love interest, but details on Garfield and Isaac’s roles are still being withheld.
As everything comes together, more will be revealed.
