Frankenstein's Last-Minute Casting Change
Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of Frankenstein has launched on Netflix, but the actor playing The Creature almost wasn’t Jacob Elordi.
Original Casting Plans
Initially, Andrew Garfield was cast to play Victor Frankenstein's monstrous creation. He was attached to the role from the announcement until a few weeks before filming began.
Change Due to Scheduling Conflicts
In early January 2024, Garfield had to leave the project because of scheduling conflicts caused by the 2023 Hollywood strikes. This opened the door for Elordi to take over the role at the last moment.
Challenges in Makeup Adaptation
Del Toro and makeup artist Mike Hill had spent nine months developing the creature’s look for Garfield. With Elordi stepping in suddenly, they had only nine weeks to adjust the makeup design to fit the new actor.
"You can't be under more pressure than that," del Toro told Vanity Fair.
Positive Outcome of the Change
Despite the intense pressure, the new design was successful, and now it’s difficult to imagine anyone else playing The Creature. This doesn’t detract from Garfield’s potential, but Elordi’s casting enhances the film’s central theme.
Author's Summary
Jacob Elordi’s last-minute casting as The Creature, replacing Andrew Garfield, ultimately strengthened Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein despite a tight timeline for redesigning the makeup.