Frankenstein Is Beautiful, And It Makes Me Wish Guillermo Del Toro Had Remade Another Classic Story Instead

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I did exactly that, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves del Toro’s visually rich filmmaking. The movie looks incredible on a big screen, and while del Toro mostly stays true to the original story, he also adds some interesting twists. One of these additions actually brought another classic tale—one del Toro previously hoped to adapt—to mind.

Before Frankenstein, Guillermo Del Toro Wanted To Remake Another Classic Story

Guillermo del Toro is known for both his original movies, such as the Academy Award-winning The Shape of Water and the beautiful Pan’s Labyrinth, and his reimaginings of classic tales. He recently directed his own versions of Frankenstein and Pinocchio, but before those, he had plans to adapt another beloved story: Beauty and the Beast.

Before Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast was made, Guillermo del Toro was planning his own version of the classic tale – a story about a woman who willingly lives with a beastly man in his castle. Interestingly, Emma Watson was originally set to star in del Toro’s film before ultimately playing the same role in Disney’s adaptation. Channing Tatum has recently shared that he was offered, but declined, the part of the Beast.

The film ended up being another project that Guillermo del Toro wasn’t able to bring to life, joining At the Mountains of Madness in that category. While the exact reasons for its cancellation aren’t known, it’s clear del Toro was passionate about it – some elements of the story seem to have influenced his later film, Frankenstein.

There Are Strong Beauty And The Beast Vibes In Frankenstein

This new adaptation of Frankenstein stays remarkably faithful to Mary Shelley’s original novel, though it isn’t without changes. One notable difference is the portrayal of Elizabeth, the main female character, played by Mia Goth.

The image depicts Elizabeth and the Creature sharing an intimate, almost romantic gaze. This moment wasn’t present in Mary Shelley’s original novel and is a unique addition by director Guillermo del Toro. While not central to the plot, the connection between Elizabeth and the Creature is significant and evokes strong echoes of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ story.

Although I wasn’t thrilled with some of the changes Guillermo del Toro made to the original story, I was really captivated by how Elizabeth and the Creature looked on screen. It made me think he’d be perfect to direct Beauty and the Beast – his style would have made it a visually stunning film, at the very least.

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2025-11-05 20:08