Stars Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac, along with acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro and other creative talents, lit up the red carpet at the U.K. premiere of Netflix’s “Frankenstein,” part of the 69th BFI London Film Festival on Monday evening.
Elordi engaged with fans, taking selfies and signing autographs, while del Toro charmed attendees with his generosity. Other cast members, including Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Christoph Waltz, Charles Dance, David Bradley, and Lars Mikkelsen, joined the celebration at the Royal Festival Hall in London’s Southbank Center. The creative team also made an appearance, including composer Alexandre Desplat, costume designer Kate Hawley, production designer Tamara Deverell, and creature designer Mike Hill.
Goth, known for her role in “Suspiria,” expressed her excitement in a THR interview about being offered a surprise second role as Victor Frankenstein’s mother, in addition to portraying Elizabeth Lavenza. “I was so honored,” she said, reflecting on the opportunity to be part of del Toro’s vision in two roles.
Kammerer, recognized for his work in “All Quiet on the Western Front,” shared his enthusiasm for working alongside Oscar Isaac, whom he has long admired. He described the experience as a dream come true, highlighting the camaraderie formed over shared dinners with Waltz and the other cast members. “There was certainly a connection as the two Austrians on set,” he recalled.
Discussing del Toro’s directing style, Kammerer noted, “He’s very precise and very, very funny. He’s open about his process, letting you know if something doesn’t work in a constructive way, and when he likes something, he shows his excitement.”
Creature designer Hill mentioned his approach to reinventing The Creature for this adaptation. He aimed to disregard past interpretations, focusing instead on creating a look that resonated with the 1800s, reflecting the medical practices and societal attitudes of the time.
Composer Desplat articulated the challenge of enhancing the film’s beauty. He emphasized the need to evoke empathy for the creature through music, particularly the violin’s emotional sound, which he described as capturing the fragility of the character. Desplat summarized the film as a romantic love story at its core, where each character is in search of love, lending the narrative a deep emotional resonance.
“Frankenstein” is set to hit select theaters on October 17 and will be available for streaming on Netflix starting November 7, marking what promises to be a captivating reinterpretation of the classic tale.