Released on Netflix last year, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein was the latest feature film to adapt the iconic Mary Shelley novel from 1818. Many actors have taken on the role of the “Creature” in previous adaptations over the years, but for del Toro, it was Jacob Elordi who ultimately got the part in the Netflix film.
At 6’5″, Elordi certainly has the right height to help lend to his portrayal as the Creature in Frankenstein. Even so, it took much more than that for the Euphoria star’s casting to be secured. In an interview with CinemaBlend, del Toro explained the thought process behind casting Elordi. A big part of it came down to understanding what it’s like to have looks that are deceiving.
“I think Jacob Elordi, as people understand it, is the fiction,” del Toro said. “He said to me on the first conversation [we had], ‘This Creature is more me than me,’ meaning we judge Jacob Elordi for how he looks, and it’s exactly what he is not. I think he didn’t hide with the makeup, he revealed it. The makeup peeled away the ego and allowed him to be. I think he is that Creature. And that’s one of the reasons I said, ‘He is the guy.’ That’s how I feel.”
On how the extensive makeup process also helped with Elordi’s performance, del Toro added, “His sensibility, his patience, he meditated every day. And basically, he came in a few weeks before we started shooting. So he prepped on those 10 hours [of makeup work] every day. That was his prep.”
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The film tells the story of Frankenstein, a deranged scientist whose experiments on creating new life brings about unexpected consequences. Along with Elordi, the film also stars Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz. After garnering high praise, the film is now up for some prestigious awards at the Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor for Elordi.
Frankenstein is streaming on Netflix.
