Frankenstein Recasting Andrew Garfield With Jacob Elordi Bothered Me At First. Now That I've Seen It, I Have Thoughts
If you’re a fan of Guillermo del Toro, you know how thrilling it was when the Oscar-winning director finally confirmed his long-awaited adaptation of Frankenstein — a film he had been dreaming about for nearly twenty years.
Del Toro has always had a gentle and empathetic way of portraying monsters on screen, from Pan’s Labyrinth to The Shape of Water. His ability to reveal beauty within darkness made me even more excited for this new take on Mary Shelley’s creation.
Still, despite the anticipation, one major casting change gave me pause during production. Initially, Andrew Garfield was signed on for the project, but shortly before filming began in early 2024, he left the cast due to what was described as “scheduling conflicts.” Jacob Elordi then stepped in to play The Creature.
Now that I’ve finally seen the film — which premiered on Netflix on November 7 — I can share my honest thoughts about that decision.
To be clear, I never doubted Jacob Elordi’s talent. His work as Nate in Euphoria was both unsettling and magnetic, and his portrayal of Elvis Presley in Priscilla proved his dramatic range. Still, Andrew Garfield has long been one of my favorite actors, so his absence initially felt disappointing.
"Despite my massive excitement for the movie, there was one change made during production that had me less interested."
Author’s Summary
Del Toro’s Frankenstein delivers the empathy and intensity expected, with Jacob Elordi’s haunting performance easing doubts about replacing Andrew Garfield.