Jacob Elordi Identifies Key Inspirations for Del Toro’s Frankenstein
Jacob Elordi, set to star as the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming adaptation of Frankenstein, recently addressed his approach to the iconic role during a “Very Important Questions” segment. While the actor admitted to “devouring” previous film iterations upon his director’s advice, he ultimately pointed to Mary Shelley’s original novel and a surprising punk rock icon as his true north for the character.
Initial Hesitation and Del Toro’s Advice
Elordi revealed that he was initially wary of watching earlier portrayals of the monster—such as Boris Karloff’s legendary 1931 performance—fearing they might unconsciously influence his work. However, when he asked del Toro if he should avoid them, the director offered a blunt rebuttal.
“I asked Guillermo, ‘Should I watch the other Frankensteins?’ And he goes, ‘What the f do you mean? It’s a movie, it can’t fing hurt you,'” Elordi recounted. Following this exchange, Elordi binged the previous films but maintained that his primary connection to the role came from the source material.
The Preference: Shelley’s Text and Iggy Pop
Rather than mimicking a specific cinematic predecessor, Elordi found his version of the Creature within the pages of Mary Shelley’s 1818 text. “I was like, oh, wow, this is the Creature as it is in Mary Shelley’s text,” he noted regarding del Toro’s script, emphasizing the character’s articulate and existential nature over the mute, lumbering figures often seen in pop culture.
In terms of physicality, Elordi cited a specific and unconventional reference provided by del Toro: Iggy Pop. The director sent Elordi a photo of the “Stooges” frontman—shirtless and “strung out”—to illustrate the “sinewy” and raw physical presence required for the role. Elordi, who stands 6’5″, utilized this punk rock aesthetic combined with Butoh (Japanese dance theater) to develop the Creature’s movement.
Casting Context and Production
Elordi joined the production to replace Andrew Garfield, who departed the project due to scheduling conflicts. He stars opposite Oscar Isaac, who plays Victor Frankenstein. The film, which del Toro has described as a “father-son story,” is expected to release on Netflix later this year.
In the same interview segment, Elordi also lightened the mood by listing his childhood celebrity crushes, which included Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie), the Olsen twins, and Miley Cyrus.
