Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Cast & Character Guide

by

Guillermo del Toro is a highly celebrated director known for his captivating stories and his unique blend of gothic and fairytale themes. He’s a true innovator in dark fantasy, and his long-awaited take on Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein, has arrived. The film features an impressive cast, including Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz.

Guillermo del Toro’s stunning new take on Frankenstein debuted at the Venice International Film Festival to widespread acclaim. Critics praised its beautiful visuals, bold reimagining of the classic story, and a standout performance by Jacob Elordi as the Creature. If you’re excited to watch, Frankenstein will be available on Netflix starting November 7. To help you prepare for the film, here’s a guide to the cast and characters.

Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein


Netflix

Victor Frankenstein, a gifted but arrogant scientist, is obsessed with achieving immortality and bringing life to the dead. His controversial experiments isolate him from the academic community. He soon discovers the dangerous truth that attempting to control life like a god is a path to destruction, as his creation ultimately leads to his downfall. According to Isaac, Frankenstein is a misunderstood artist driven by a desire to provoke. Isaac described Frankenstein’s lab as a stage, not a scientific workspace, emphasizing a rebellious, punk-rock energy that defines the character.

Oscar Isaac, known for winning a Golden Globe and starring in popular films and shows, plays the villain in the new take on the Frankenstein story. He’s famous for roles like Poe Dameron in the recent Star Wars movies and Duke Leto Atreides in Dune, and has also been praised for his work in films like Inside Llewyn Davis, Ex Machina, and Annihilation, as well as the series Moon Knight and Show Me a Hero. Next, he’ll be appearing in the second season of the Netflix show Beef alongside Carey Mulligan.

Jacob Elordi as The Creature


Netflix

As a huge classic horror fan, I’m really excited about Jacob Elordi taking on the role of the Creature in a new take on the Frankenstein story! He’s following in the footsteps of the incredible Boris Karloff, and it sounds like he’s really become the character. The story focuses on the Creature’s journey – how he develops a sense of right and wrong and actually ends up being more compassionate than his creator, Victor Frankenstein. Apparently, Elordi spent hours – up to ten, in fact – getting the makeup done to transform into this iconic monster. He told People magazine all about the intense process and how completely he threw himself into the role.

Playing this character felt like a complete expression of everything I am. It encompasses my entire life, from childhood to this very moment. In many ways, the character you see on screen is the most authentic version of myself – almost more truly me than I feel I am.

Jacob Elordi first became well-known for his role in the Netflix films The Kissing Booth series. He then received praise for playing Nate Jacobs on the HBO show Euphoria. He’s continued to prove his acting ability by taking on challenging roles, including Elvis Presley in Priscilla and Felix Catton in the critically acclaimed film Saltburn. Elordi is now set to appear in a new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel Wuthering Heights, alongside Margot Robbie.

Mia Goth as Lady Elizabeth Harlander and Baroness Claire Frankenstein


Netflix

Lady Elizabeth Harlander is William Frankenstein’s intended wife, and Victor quickly falls in love with her. The actress Mia Goth also plays William and Victor’s mother, Claire Frankenstein, who died giving birth. Elizabeth becomes entangled in a complicated love triangle involving Victor and the Creature, showing kindness to the monster but ultimately finding herself caught between their violent conflict.

Mia Goth has quickly become a prominent figure in modern horror, known for her roles as Maxine and Pearl in Ti West’s X series. She’s also appeared in critically acclaimed horror films like Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria, A Cure For Wellness, and Infinity Pool. Beyond horror, Goth has starred in films such as Nymphomaniac and Emma. She’s expanding her repertoire with upcoming roles in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter.

Felix Kammerer as William Frankenstein


Netflix

William Frankenstein is Victor’s younger brother, and the two didn’t see each other much growing up until they reconnected as adults. William was always the favorite son, doted on by their father, which made Victor feel competitive and determined to succeed. The situation becomes even more complicated when William arrives with Elizabeth, his future wife, and Victor unexpectedly falls for her.

Felix Kammerer plays William Frankenstein in Guillermo del Toro’s captivating new film. He first gained recognition for his powerful role as Paul Bäumer, a German soldier in World War I, in the Oscar-winning movie All Quiet on the Western Front. Since then, he’s appeared in the historical thriller Eden with Jude Law and Sydney Sweeney, and is now receiving a lot of attention for his work in Frankenstein.

Christoph Waltz as Henrich Harlander


Netflix

Henrich Harlander is a rich and cruel arms dealer who provides funding for Victor’s disturbing experiments. He’s also Elizabeth’s uncle and has hidden reasons for wanting to bring people back from the dead. The role is brilliantly played by Christoph Waltz, a two-time Academy Award winner known for his memorable performances in Quentin Tarantino’s films like Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained.

As a movie fan, I’m always amazed by Christoph Waltz’s collaborators – the guy’s worked with so many incredible directors! Think Guillermo del Toro, Tarantino, Tim Burton (remember Big Eyes?), Alexander Payne (Downsizing was interesting!), and even Wes Anderson (The French Dispatch). He’s just brilliant at playing villains – seriously, who could forget his deliciously evil Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Spectre and No Time to Die? And it looks like he’s leaning into that a bit more, because he’s going to be playing the Priest in Dracula: A Love Tale, which sounds fantastic!

Charles Dance as Baron Leopold Frankenstein


Netflix

Baron Leopold Frankenstein, Victor and William’s stern and dominant father, was a well-known doctor. The way he treated his sons when they were young created a competitive dynamic between them and ultimately influenced Victor’s descent into dangerous experiments. Actor Charles Dance, with a career of over 50 years, expertly played the controlling Leopold, a role he had previously taken on in the 2015 film Victor Frankenstein.

Charles Dance is a well-known actor with a successful career in film and television. He’s appeared in popular movies like The Golden Child, Michael Collins, The Imitation Game, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Television audiences will recognize him as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones and Lord Mountbatten in The Crown. Recently, he starred as James Wilde in the miniseries Washington Black. He’s also slated to appear in the upcoming romantic comedy Ladies First, alongside Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike.

Lars Mikkelsen as Captain Anderson


Netflix

Lars Mikkelsen plays Captain Anderson, who, during a North Pole expedition, finds himself and his crew stranded in the Arctic ice. They discover a frozen Victor Frankenstein and bring him onto their ship. While caring for Victor, Captain Anderson hears the chilling story of the Creature, and the terrifying monster soon appears, searching for its creator.

Mads Mikkelsen is known for playing diverse roles in popular TV series like The Killing, Sherlock, and House of Cards. He recently starred in the hit shows The Witcher and Ahsoka, and his performance as a villain in Ahsoka even earned him a nomination for a Critics’ Choice Super Award.

David Bradley as the Blind Man


Netflix

Once the Creature escapes from captivity, he explores the outside world, including a nearby forest, and meets a kind, blind man who is teaching his granddaughter to read. Feeling increasingly alone during the winter months, the Creature forms a friendship with the Blind Man, who generously teaches him to read and speak English fluently.

David Bradley, a well-known character actor, plays a kind stranger in this film. Many will recognize him from his roles as Argus Filch in the Harry Potter movies, Walder Frey in Game of Thrones, Abraham Setrakian in The Strain, and Ray Johnson in After Life. He’s also been in popular films like Hot Fuzz, The World’s End, and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. This project reunites Bradley with director Guillermo del Toro, following their previous collaboration where he voiced Gepetto in the Oscar-winning Pinocchio.

Frankenstein is now playing in limited theaters and will premiere on Netflix on November 7, 2025.

Read More

2025-11-03 02:05