Jacob Elordi Replaces Andrew Garfield As The Monster In Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein'

By Emily Richardson | Film | January 8, 2024 |

By Emily Richardson | Film | January 8, 2024 |

Production on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein adaptation begins this week. The Netflix movie will star Oscar Isaac (mmmm) as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, and Jacob Elordi as Frankenstein’s monster. Heh? I thought Andrew Garfield was playing as the monster. Well, that was the plan, up until very recently.

Yesterday, Deadline reported that 40-year-old Andrew Garfield was forced to ditch the role due to “strike postponements that led to scheduling conflicts.” Jacob, 26, was named as his replacement.

Even though Andrew is an amazing actor, and I’d pay good money to see him play opposite Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi actually makes more sense in the role to me. At least physically. He’s very, very tall. Like, 6’5”. Tall tall. Also, Jacob can do detached and wooden. See: Euphoria and Saltburn. I’m not saying he’s a bad actor, I’m just saying he can lurch and grunt effectively.

In contrast, Andrew is an expressive cutie-boy. He can do dark (Never Let Me Go, Under the Banner of Heaven), he can play assholes (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) , but can he do scary? Eh, probably. Like I said, he’s great.

I suppose casting depends entirely on Guillermo del Toro’s interpretation of the character. Guillermo has said Mary Shelley’s original 1818 novel is “the most important book” of his life, so chances are this will be a faithful adaptation. Less classic monster movie a la Frankenstein (1931), and more Kenneth Branagh’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994). Except hopefully not as bad.

The book monster is a lot smarter than Boris Karloff’s version of the character. He speaks in full sentences. He can read. He doesn’t accidentally drown a little girl because he doesn’t understand his own strength; he saves her!

If Guillermo’s monster is more intellectual, then, yes, Andrew Garfield could’ve pulled it off. But I’m sure Jacob Elordi will do just fine. Again, he’s extremely tall. The only issue will be his beautiful face. The monster is supposed to be hideous! I’m sorry, but if Jacob Elordi stumbled into my little log cabin, I wouldn’t chase him away; I would cheat on my husband with him. Literally the only option.